In the life of an institution, certain moments invite us to take a step back. Not to slow down the action, but to reflect on the meaning of the work we do together and what constitutes its true solidity.
The last few weeks at Zanmi Lasante have been marked by several important developments. Taken in isolation, they concern different areas. But observed as a whole, they point to a more essential question: what enables an institution to remain strong and credible over time?
In the healthcare field, the answer is rarely built in spectacular declarations. Rather, it lies in the constancy of daily work and the professional standards that each individual chooses to apply to his or her practice.
These elements are not always the most visible. Yet it is they that shape, day after day, the real quality of a healthcare system.
Medical training is a particularly clear illustration of this. Training a doctor takes time, rigor and a sustained collective commitment. It requires supervisors who pass on their experience and professional standards. Residents who accept a high level of discipline and responsibility. Institutions that invest in a process whose results can be measured over several years.
Each doctor trained in Haiti represents a concrete reinforcement of the country’s healthcare system. Each cohort expands the circle of professionals capable not only of providing quality care, but also of assuming clinical, academic and institutional responsibilities.
This work is part of a long-term process. It is built with patience, rigor and perseverance.
On February 21, our community also marked the anniversary of Dr. Paul Farmer’s passing. Many recalled his considerable influence on global health. At Zanmi Lasante, his legacy manifests itself perhaps above all in a simple but constant requirement.
He paid particular attention to the quality of the work accomplished, to the organization of services, to the coherence between our principles and our daily practice.
The questions he asked were often simple, but fundamental:
Are we doing this work correctly?
Are we maintaining the same high standards in all circumstances?
Are we organized in such a way as to be able to carry on, even when conditions become more difficult?
These questions remain fully relevant today.
Wesler Lambert MD, MPH
Executive Director