On March 8, 2026, the international community marks International Women’s Day around the theme “Rights, justice, and action for all women and girls”. This day is a reminder of the importance of continuing efforts to ensure that women and girls can fully exercise their rights in all aspects of life, including access to healthcare services.
At Zanmi Lasante, this reflection is directly in line with our daily work. Our mission is based on the conviction that access to healthcare must be based on respect for human dignity, equality and social justice.
In many contexts marked by social and economic fragility, women and girls face particular obstacles in accessing essential services. Economic constraints, certain social norms, unequal power relations and gender-based violence continue to influence their health and their ability to receive care regularly and safely.
These realities can also manifest themselves in care spaces. Women and girls may be exposed to discrimination, abuse of power, exploitation or harassment. These challenges are a reminder that quality of care is not limited to the medical services offered. It also includes how patients are welcomed, listened to and protected when they seek help.
For Zanmi Lasante, guaranteeing quality care means ensuring that every person is received in a respectful and protective environment. Protecting the people we serve is an integral part of our mission and guides practices across all the structures we support.
Over the years, the institution has strengthened its policies and mechanisms aimed at preventing any form of exploitation, abuse or harassment. Prevention, reporting and response mechanisms have been put in place so that patients can receive care in a climate of trust and respect. These commitments particularly concern women and girls, who make up a significant proportion of the people seen every day in the hospitals and health centers supported by Zanmi Lasante.
These efforts also concern the women who work within the institution. Zanmi Lasante’s teams include many female health professionals, community workers, nurses, doctors, technicians and administrative staff. Ensuring a respectful and safe working environment for these professionals is an essential responsibility for the institution.
International Women’s Rights Day is thus a moment for reflection and mobilization. It serves as a reminder of the importance of continuing to strengthen practices, policies and mechanisms that protect the rights and dignity of women and girls in healthcare spaces.
At Zanmi Lasante, this commitment is reflected every day in the work of the teams who welcome patients, accompany families and work alongside communities. Through these efforts, the institution pursues its goal of contributing to a fairer, safer and more humane healthcare system, where every woman can receive care with dignity.