Haiti has the highest HIV burden in the Caribbean, with an estimated 150,000 people living with HIV. However the percent of Haiti’s population living with HIV has remained stable at about two percent since 2008, thanks in large part to USAID’s support and ongoing work in vulnerable communities. Progress toward HIV epidemic control has stalled due to frequent interruptions in treatment and patients not remaining engaged in care. Weak governance and coordination; geographic and financial barriers to accessing health services; difficulty in retaining qualified health professionals; and growing insecurity are all chronic challenges to managing HIV cases in Haiti. Human resources for health are scarce, with many skilled health care professionals leaving the country in search of better jobs or for their own safety. People living with HIV face these same challenges, and may also find themselves migrating within and outside of the country. Additionally, people living with HIV face extreme social stigma in Haiti, which may drive them to seek health care outside of their immediate communities where they can remain anonymous.
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