On August 14, 2021, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti’s Southern Peninsula, destroying hundreds of buildings, and killing thousands of people. Coming just over a decade after the devastating 2010 earthquake, the mid-August catastrophe overwhelmed hospitals; rendered roads impassable; reduced schools, churches, and businesses to rubble; and left thousands homeless and in search of loved ones. Unlike the outpouring of support in the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake, the 2021 response was muted. Persistent poverty, political unrest, and violence — not to mention the unrelenting natural disasters themselves – had led many to question the benefit of continued investment in Haiti.

The news media often refers to Haiti as “the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere,” and it is quick to draw attention to Haiti’s current problems every time a disaster strikes. The narrative focus on hopelessness and tragedy portrays the Caribbean nation as a “graveyard” of failed projects and perpetuates myths and misconceptions about aid and reconstruction efforts. These reports only portray one side of the story, since they often obscure both the root causes of the country’s suffering and the Haitian-led initiatives working effectively to solve them.

Contrary to the narrative that all philanthropic investments have been ineffective in Haiti, Partners In Health (PIH), Build Health International (BHI), and Health Equity International (HEI) have had immense positive impacts on the health sector in Haiti over the last decade. With sustained funding from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF), these non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are committed to tackling systemic inequities embedded in the health care system. They have partnered with local communities and public institutions to build more resilient health infrastructure, train and retain a competent workforce, and develop strong and functioning health systems that improve long-term health outcomes and aid in the response to acute crises in Haiti. They are proof that delivering sustainable health care in low-resource settings – in partnership with local communities and government, and with a keen understanding of local context – is not only possible, but also imperative. Examples of how to do so successfully already exist in Haiti.

Read the full article about health philanthropy in Haiti by Ryan Jiha and Jim Ansara at Grantmakers In Health.