An exploratory mission, led by Marie Carmelle Rose Anne Auguste, Minister Delegate to the Prime Minister Responsible for Human Rights and the Fight against Poverty Extreme, composed among others of the Architect Taïna Mayard who works at the Unit Construction of Housing and Public Buildings (UCLBP), the Engineer Barbara Jean of the Centre National Geo-Spatial Information (CNIGS), Chris Wolff, General Manager of the firm Drill Tech, members of the Cuban cooperation working in the medical field and in the Cuban literacy; went this week in Bernagousse [department of Grand Anse] to identify the priority needs of the population through a participatory diagnosis.

Data collected during this mission will be used to develop a special intervention plan that will reduce extreme poverty and improve access to basic social services in the communal section, which depends on the commune of Pestel

The discussions took place the church St Dominique in the presence of the Mayor of Pestel, Brunel Alcégaire and its assessor Milot Bélance and representatives of the Board of the Communal Section Councils (CASEC), of members of the public and representatives of community-based organizations around four major themes : agriculture, education, health and drinking water. These exchanges have enabled the delegation to make an initial diagnosis of the socio-economic situation of the area.

The absence of health centers is one of the main problems faced by the population of Bernagousse. Residents of this communal section, to have access to health care, have to travel more than 7km to get to Corail or Pestel. Patients are transported to the hospital, most often using stretcher. Starting next week, Cuban doctors will intervene in the area through the installation of mobile clinics to remedy this situation, pending the construction of health centers with pharmacy and other equipment.

In the field of agriculture, the needs expressed by the population concerned the opening of bank credit, of inputs, agricultural tools and agronomists. Farmers also reported drinking water and other basic infrastructure problems. These complaints will be used to develop a special intervention plan for the communal section.

HL/ HaitiLibre