Haiti has been one of the Caribbean countries where the fight against HIV/AIDS, launched in the early 2000s, achieved significant success. Figures like Esther Boucicault Stanislas have been central to this long battle against stigma and discrimination affecting people living with HIV. Yet her activism dates back even earlier—she faced hostility as far back as 1998 at the Rex Theatre in Port-au-Prince while trying to raise awareness among youth.
In the Artibonite region, particularly in Saint-Marc, her foundation—the Fondation Esther Boucicault Stanislas (FEBS)—became a model of intervention. At a time when HIV prevalence was high, the organization played a critical role in prevention, testing, and treatment. Hundreds of vulnerable young people were reached, many diagnosed and immediately placed on antiretroviral therapy (ARVs), helping to significantly reduce infections in the area. The foundation also contributed to broader support systems, including care for orphans and access to education.
However, this progress is now under serious threat. Over the past five years, worsening insecurity has disrupted healthcare delivery across Haiti. Armed violence and mass displacement—such as the killings in Pont-Sondé in 2024 that forced thousands into shelters—have directly affected access to HIV services. Patients are struggling to reach clinics, follow-up care is inconsistent, and treatment interruptions are becoming more frequent.
Health experts warn that these conditions could reverse decades of progress. According to public health specialist Dr. André Paul Vénor, insecurity combined with declining international funding creates a high-risk environment for resurgence. Continuity of care is essential in HIV management; interruptions can lead to viral rebound, increased transmission, and drug resistance.
Within FEBS, staff report growing operational constraints. Home visits are increasingly dangerous, and many patients cannot travel safely for treatment. Psychosocial support programs—covering self-esteem, entrepreneurship, nutrition, and human rights—remain vital but are harder to sustain.
The financial situation is equally critical. According to program coordinator Dr. Carl Joseph Obas, the foundation has faced severe funding shortages for nearly three years, threatening its ability to operate. Without immediate support, closure is a real possibility.
Despite these challenges, Esther Boucicault Stanislas remains determined. She warns that many patients have been displaced and forced to abandon treatment, putting both their health and public health at risk. Haiti had reduced HIV prevalence from around 6% to 2.1% over the years, with more than 120,000 lives sustained through treatment programs. These gains are now fragile.
Her message is direct: without urgent intervention from authorities and international partners, the country risks losing hard-won progress. In a deteriorating socio-economic context, vulnerability is rising again—especially among young girls forced into survival strategies such as street-based activities—raising the risk of new infections.
The situation underscores a critical reality: HIV is not only a medical issue but also deeply tied to security, funding, and social stability.
