The Power of Accompaniment as Practiced by Haitian Health Workers in Times of Violence

Centuries ago, violence in Haiti was used as a tool by the enslaved population against European oppressors to fight for freedom and human dignity. In the 2020’s, violence continues to be used, but by Haitians against one another, to bring global attention to dehumanizing and dismal conditions in which the majority of the nation lives. Caught between gangs and politicians, a government in absentia, and global powers that have exacerbated harsh living conditions are healthcare workers continuing to model accompaniment to a beleaguered citizenry fighting for basic health. Modeled after the late Dr. Paul Farmer, this paper seeks to analyze the model of liberative medicine practiced by health workers in Haiti as they continue fighting the physical and political fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic that both exacerbated poor health conditions and a deteriorating government. Through their example, a model of health advocacy amid physical and political chaos has the potential to improve health promotion in other nations facing unending violence.