Friday, July 15, Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (D-FL) spoke by phone with the State Department’s Haiti Special Coordinator Kenneth Merten to discuss several issues affecting the Haitian people, including the doctors’ strike, long-delayed elections, and interim President Jocelerme Privert’s expired mandate.

Since March 18, 2016, Haiti’s three main public hospitals have largely been closed due to a strike. More than 400 resident physicians are protesting low pay and life-threatening working conditions https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-17361-haiti-health-irresponsible-strike-in-hospitals.html . Congresswoman Wilson shared her concerns for vulnerable Haitians who are struggling to access care as a result of the ongoing strike and health-care workers who are struggling to survive on a monthly salary of about $120. She highlighted health-care workers’ critical role in containing cholera and Zika and the importance of ensuring that low-income Haitians have access to health care.

Congresswoman Wilson mentioned news articles about vulnerable Haitians who have suffered and died https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-17531-haiti-flash-strike-a-3-year-old-girl-died-for-lack-of-care.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-17361-haiti-health-irresponsible-strike-in-hospitals.html because of the strike and cited a May 2015 report that highlighted a $5 million USAID grant to fund the salaries of 3,000 Liberian health-care workers who were on strike while their country faced public health crises similar to Haiti’s. Congresswoman Wilson asked Ambassador Merten to examine U.S. resources in Haiti and to consider providing temporary assistance to Haitian health-care workers to restore immediate access to Haiti’s largest public hospitals.

Additionally, she advocated for continued U.S. support as Haitian leaders determine interim President Privert’s fate and plan to hold the long-delayed elections.

"As the proud congressional representative of one of the largest Haitian populations in the United States, I am working to strengthen U.S.-Haiti relations to advance shared priorities, including access to health care, free and fair elections, and Haiti’s transition to a strong democracy," said Congresswoman Wilson.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-17888-haiti-health-partial-reopening-of-maternity-isaie-jeanty.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-17856-haiti-health-deterioration-of-the-crisis-in-the-hospital-sector.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-17775-icihaiti-health-youth-government-raises-its-voice.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-17588-haiti-health-strike-amhe-deplores-the-lack-of-emergency-cell.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-17551-icihaiti-flash-incompetence-unconcern-and-negligence-of-the-authorities.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-17539-haiti-flash-denial-about-the-delivery-of-medicines-expired-at-hueh.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-17531-haiti-flash-strike-a-3-year-old-girl-died-for-lack-of-care.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-17435-icihaiti-flash-delivery-of-medicines-inputs-and-materials-to-the-hueh.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-17381-icihaiti-health-strike-in-public-hospitals-paho-who-reactions.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-17402-icihaiti-health-sit-in-of-dissatisfied-citizens-front-hueh.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-17361-haiti-health-irresponsible-strike-in-hospitals.html

HL/ SL/ HaitiLibre