Above: Haiti Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe (Photo: OPM)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Haiti Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe and United States Ambassador to Haiti Kenneth Merten have signed into effect a partnership framework aimed at supporting Haiti’s health strategy.

The agreement looks to advance Haiti’s ownership and oversight of an “adaptable and self-correcting public health system in Haiti,” and to reduce dependence on donor support over time, according to a release from the US Embassy.

Its ultimate purpose is to “refocus” the cooperation between the two countries’ governments and their partners on supporting Haiti’s efforts to improve its health system.

“By signing this partnership agreement, we want to meet the expectation of the Haitian people by offering a new way of working together that puts the government in the ‘driver’s seat,'” Merten said. “We want to reaffirm our commitment to provide resources to support the reconstruction of the Haitian health system.”

Lamothe thanked the US government for its involvement in a number of projects “that benefit the Haitian nation,” particularly in the field of health.

“My government will play its part to ensure that the objectives of this partnership framework are met and respected,” the Prime Minister said. “This partnership is an agreement in principle of collaboration between the two governments to improve the Haitian health system.”

The framework covers a five-year period, after which health care in a number of areas, from reproductive health to HIV/AIDS, is expected to have improved.

The agreement was signed in a ceremony at the Plaza Hotel in Port-au-Prince.