Above: the new Mirebalais Teaching Hospital (Photo: Partners in Health)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Continuing his tour around Haiti to push the government’s plan to shift power from Port-au-Prince and into local governments, Haitian President Michel Martelly visited the still-under-construction Mirebalais Teaching Hospital Wednesday.

Martelly said he is prepared to initiate discussions with the relevant authorities to consider a fund to construct at least one modern hospital in every department of Haiti during his term.

Included in that plan would be the modernization of existing health facilities in the country.

“Decentralization must be effective everywhere,” Martelly said.

Martelly, was joined on the visit by Cuban Ambassador to Haiti Ricardo Garcia and Dr Paul Farmer, among others.

The Mirebalais hospital, which is the product of a private and public partnership, will be managed by Partners in Health and Zanmi Lasante, along with the Ministry of Public Health and Population.

The 180,000-square-foot, 320-bed hospital will open this year.

It will operate on the principle of free health care.