In the remote mountains of Laguas, on the border between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, life follows a harsh rhythm, dictated by nature, poverty and distance. It’s here that Gesma Alisma, is gradually regaining what he thought he’d lost forever: his health.
Like so many others, Gesma had left Haiti in 2020 to seek better opportunities across the border. In the Dominican Republic, he took one odd job after another, hoping for a more stable future. But in early 2024, his body began to betray him. A persistent cough set in, accompanied by drastic weight loss and overwhelming fatigue. He consulted doctors, changed hospitals, spent his meagre savings… but nothing changed. No precise diagnosis. No improvement.
In October 2024, sick and desperate, Gesma makes a difficult decision: to return home. He arrives in Ti Lory, a small mountain village reached by motorcycle, on foot or by miracle when the roads are good. Here, a clinic supported by Zanmi Lasante offers free healthcare to the most isolated communities of the central plateau. It is here that Gesma is received, listened to and examined.
Dr. Dana Saint Marc, an attentive young doctor, takes charge of his case. After a few tests, the diagnosis is made: active pulmonary tuberculosis. The news is harsh, but for the first time in months, it comes with a plan of action. By November, intensive treatment was underway. The Ti Lory team got organized: medicine deliveries, regular visits, listening and encouragement. The clinic becomes the center of a daily battle against a disease which, if left untreated, could have cost him his life.
As the weeks go by, Gesma regains his strength. He follows each stage of treatment, motivated by the care he receives and the kindness of those around him. In an environment where poverty makes everything more difficult - getting food, getting around, staying safe - the regularity of his treatment is quite a feat. But he hangs in there, and so does the team.
In May 2025, after six months of treatment, his tuberculosis has receded. His condition is stable. He’s breathing easily. He eats with appetite again. He speaks with clarity and gratitude. What he remembers most is the dignity he has regained. To be treated with respect, without being judged, in a clinic that has neither brand-new walls nor the latest equipment, but which has the essentials: a team that doesn’t give up.
For in Ti Lory, as in so many other forgotten corners of Haiti, Zanmi Lasante continues to make the right to health real. Thanks to its rural clinics, mobile teams and committed staff, the organization reaches areas that others abandon. It doesn’t promise luxury, but it does guarantee presence, attentiveness and continuity. And this is often what makes the difference between abandonment and healing.
Today, Gesma is a discreet but essential victory. A victory over oblivion, over illness, over abandonment. Proof that, even in remote mountains, health can triumph when there’s solidarity.
Every recovery, like Gesma’s, is made possible by the support of people like you. Make a donation today so that health can also reach the most isolated corners of Haiti.