World Health Worker Week: Investing in the VIPs of Health
Health workers fill many roles. They are doctors, nurses, community health workers, pharmacists, mental health counselors, and more. CMMB-supported health workers come from many backgrounds, yet they all share a calling: to care for our vulnerable neighbors in need.
April 1-7 is World Health Worker Week, a global advocacy initiative led by the Frontline Health Workers Coalition. CMMB joins people and organizations around the world in recognizing the crucial role of health workers and calling for investments that value, protect, and support them. No matter where they work, all health workers must be safe and equipped to thrive. They truly are the VIPs of health.
This week, we are proud to shine a spotlight on some of CMMB’s VIPs: the staff of the Bishop Joseph M. Sullivan Hospital in Haiti. Even as their country faces a tumultuous chapter, these men and women remain dedicated to their lifesaving work. CMMB’s recent installation of a new solar power system for the hospital is delivering a brighter future—for health workers and the patients they serve.
Health Worker Spotlight: Bishop Joseph Sullivan Hospital Staff
For a long time, the people of Côtes-de-Fer had little access to healthcare. This rural coastal community in southeastern Haiti was home to a small clinic, but the nearest hospital was more than two hours away. The distance put health services out of reach for many.
Until one day, thanks to their advocacy, a hospital came to Côtes-de-Fer—and with it, hope for a healthier future. In 2017, CMMB constructed the Bishop Joseph Sullivan Hospital, working closely with the Ministry of Health. Today, about 20,000 people depend on the facility for their urgent healthcare needs.
The hospital staff perform surgeries, offer regular check-ups, respond to emergencies when they arise, and provide dental services. They care for women throughout their pregnancies and deliver their newborns. Healthcare is now close to home.
Haiti’s ongoing crisis has put new pressure on the hospital and its staff. Deadly gang violence that began in the capital, Port-au-Prince, has only worsened. Armed gangs control large swathes of territory, making travel and transport challenging. As instability upends the country, many health facilities are barely functioning.
Bishop Joseph Sullivan Hospital remained open but resources were strained. Generator fuel was hard to find and expensive, and power outages became frequent. Without reliable electrical power, uncertainty intruded into every procedure. Stress rose for health workers and their patients.
A Bright Future for Health Workers in Côtes-de-Fer
Still, the staff persisted, doing their best to care for patients in the darkness and amid supply shortages. Thankfully, CMMB had a solution on the way—one that would have a long-lasting impact powered by the sun.
Today, a new solar microgrid provides the hospital with a stable, continuous source of electrical power, ending the hospital’s frequent power outages.
The impact of the new solar yard has already been significant. The hospital uses energy more efficiently and depends less on costly fossil fuels, so they can divert more funds to enhance the quality of patient care.
The hospital’s hardworking health workers, who endured great challenges without giving up, feel supported in their essential work. Because of this investment, they can have faith that the power will hold fast as they care for their patients.
Health Workers: The VIPs of Health
We are grateful to the CMMB-supported health workers who care for families in some of the world’s most challenging circumstances. Like all health workers, they are our best defense against the spread of disease, climate disasters, and humanitarian crises. When we invest in them, we gain brighter futures.
During World Health Worker Week, we celebrate the health workers who make our work possible. With your help, we will continue to support them and equip them with the resources they need to fulfill their essential roles.