In Haiti, access to healthcare often depends on the system’s ability to follow patients over time. For many people, a consultation is not enough. They need to be able to return, be accompanied and adapt care as their situation evolves.
Family medicine responds to this reality. It is often the first point of contact with the healthcare system, providing prevention, disease monitoring and long-term support for patients. It takes into account physical and mental health, as well as the living conditions that directly influence care outcomes.
At Zanmi Lasante, the family medicine residency program trains doctors to work in this setting. They learn to follow patients over time, make appropriate clinical decisions and maintain continuity of care, including in resource-constrained settings.
Home visits are part of this approach. They enable us to reach patients who are unable to travel, and to adapt care to their reality. They also give a direct understanding of living conditions, which influences care.
Nolene Franck, a family medicine resident for three years at Zanmi Lasante, applies this approach on a daily basis. She follows her patients over several consultations and adjusts their management according to their progress.
During her residency, she accompanied a patient suffering from depression with suicidal ideation. At the start of the follow-up, the patient was withdrawn and in great distress. Over the course of the consultations, thanks to regular monitoring, his condition evolved. Like many health professionals in Haiti, she works with limited resources. Follow-up, observation and the relationship with the patient then become essential to ensure quality care.
Strengthening family medicine remains an important lever for improving access to care, prevention and patient follow-up in communities.
Training doctors in family medicine means strengthening an essential link in Haiti’s healthcare system. Your support helps Zanmi Lasante train tomorrow’s healthcare professionals and keep care accessible where it’s needed most. Support this work here.