The Thomonde Health Center holds a special place in the Central Plateau’s healthcare network. It serves patients from the municipality and houses a medical oxygen production facility designed to meet the needs of several healthcare facilities in the region.
Inaugurated in August 2024, this medical oxygen production center can produce up to 100 oxygen cylinders per day. Its construction addressed a specific need. Before it became operational, the purchase and transport of oxygen cylinders represented significant costs and a logistical challenge for healthcare facilities. Local production was intended to ensure a more reliable supply while freeing up resources for other medical needs.
The involvement of the Thomonde community was already part of the process during the planning and development of the production center. Nearly two years later, this collaboration has taken on a new dimension.
Zanmi Lasante brought together representatives from community organizations, school administrators, and religious leaders of all faiths to discuss the protection of the health center. Members of the center’s management team and several Zanmi Lasante officials also participated in the discussions.
The meeting followed several incidents reported in recent months, including thefts, threats against employees, and acts of sabotage. One such act damaged the electrical system that powers the health center and the oxygen production unit. These events served as a reminder of the impact that equipment damage can have on the care provided to the population.
The discussions primarily focused on developing appropriate responses. Several participants called for the resumption of regular meetings between center officials and community leaders. In their view, more consistent communication would facilitate information sharing, raise residents’ awareness, and enable the reporting of incidents to the appropriate authorities.
A representative from a local organization announced his intention to organize a peaceful awareness march. Another participant volunteered to join the community support committee proposed during the meeting. The creation of this committee received support from several people in attendance.
A new meeting is scheduled to officially establish the committee and define its role. Zanmi Lasante also announced the installation of streetlights at strategic locations throughout the center to improve nighttime lighting and facilitate the work of security personnel.
These various proposals reflect a shared understanding of what is at stake. The health center is not merely a collection of buildings and equipment. The services provided there serve patients, families, and medical teams in Thomonde and elsewhere in the Central Plateau.
The meeting has not yet resolved all the challenges. The committee has yet to be formed, the march has yet to be organized, and the announced measures have yet to be implemented. However, it did help establish clear responsibilities and re-establish a dialogue that many participants deemed necessary.
Building a healthcare infrastructure represents a considerable investment. Keeping it operational also requires ongoing collaboration between the teams, the authorities, and the community it serves. In Thomonde, the first steps toward this collaboration have now been defined.
To help Zanmi Lasante protect health services and maintain access to care during this particularly difficult time, you can support our emergency fund for healthcare in Haiti.