The Economic and Social Assistance Fund (FAES) and the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP) took a further step in their collaboration this week.

Kesner Romilus, Director General of FAES, and Bertrand Sinal, Minister of Health, signed a new Memorandum of Understanding this week to govern the implementation of two programs funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) : the "Community Program for the Promotion of Human Security in Haiti" (HA-J0008) and "Restoring Access to Essential Health Services" (HA-J0012).

The document specifies the respective responsibilities of the two institutions, the procedures for technical supervision, coordination, and reporting, as well as the conditions for implementing activities related to the health sector.

"We are gathered here today to sign an important memorandum between the Ministry of Public Health and FAES," said [name and title of Minister]. "It concerns two programs financed by the Inter-American Development Bank," stated Kesner Romilus.

In his address, Bertrand Sinal, the Minister of Health, thanked the FAES for its hospitality and emphasized that signing this agreement was a government priority. Through programs HA-J0008 and HA-J0012, several projects are slated for review, including strengthening university and departmental hospitals, as well as District Health Units (UAS). The protocol also paves the way for FAES interventions in the construction or rehabilitation of healthcare infrastructure, in accordance with the provisions of the financing agreements.

Furthermore, the Minister addressed the human resource needs of the healthcare system. According to him, the new budget provides for the recruitment of approximately 2,000 Multipurpose Community Health Workers (ASCPs), while approximately 3,000 people have already been appointed within the Ministry through the Prime Minister's Office.

The new protocol is based in particular on the grant agreements concluded between Haiti and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB). It also provides for complementarity between these two programs in order to consolidate their collaborative mechanisms within a single institutional framework. The FAES is designated as the implementing agency, given its mandate and responsibilities.

Beyond the formalization of this agreement, the stated objective is to strengthen the capacity of institutions to address essential needs of the health system, particularly through infrastructure, community-based services, and human resources.

For both the FAES and the MSPP, the next step will be to translate this institutional commitment into concrete actions on the ground, with the support of the IDB and in accordance with the implementation mechanisms stipulated in the agreements.

HL/ HaitiLibre