Haiti’s Health Ministry blamed for death of pregnant woman at hospital gate
PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti (CMC) – A local doctor has blamed the Ministry of Health following the death of a pregnant woman at the gates of one of the largest public hospital’s here on Wednesday.
The woman who was bleeding, reportedly dropped dead after failing to get help as resident doctors, nurses and other members of staff continue industrial action to protest against the lack of medical supplies, poor pay and unsafe working conditions.
As news circulated about the death of the pregnant woman, Dr Joseph Herold, a third-year resident in obstetrics and gynaecology at the Hospital of the State University of Haiti – a teaching hospital, blamed the Ministry of Health.
“The State doesn’t give us anything to care for the patients,” he said, adding that even rubber gloves are scarce.
According to Herold, resident physicians at the teaching hospital earn a basic salary of just US$120 a month, Herold said, noting that pay hasn’t increased for over 20 years, causing a steady stream of doctors to abandon the public hospital system or seek opportunities abroad.
In a statement, the health ministry’s mediators said the resident doctors are demanding nearly US$1,300 a month.
They said they are trying to satisfy demands but they are powerless to do so until the next fiscal year begins in October.
Little Haiti Cultural Center subject of public corruption investigation
The Little Haiti Cultural Center, recently the source of a near-mutiny at Miami City Hall, is the subject of a public corruption probe, the Miami Herald reported.
Dealings at the center and adjoining Caribbean Marketplace at 212 NE 59th Ter. have been under investigation for at least two months, according to emails released by the city in response to a public records request. It’s unclear when the investigation started, but in February a Miami police investigator was quietly pulling records about who had rented the facility since June 2013.