Haitian Outreach Follows Example of a Real-World Humanitarian!

Dr. Paul Farmer, Medical Anthropologist, Physician and Humanitarian, passed away in Rwanda at the age of 62 on February 21, 2022.

Dr. Farmer’s life’s work was driven by his belief that “a person’s place of birth should not decide their access to good healthcare.” In 1983 Paul Farmer went to Haiti. What he witnessed led him to volunteer in clinics while at the same time attending medical school at Harvard University.

As a physician, he made it his mission to improve Haitian lives with quality medical care and at the same time fell in love with the people of Haiti. He would walk miles a day, in the outskirts of Port-au-Prince, seeking out and treating people who were ravaged by HIV, cholera and tuberculosis. Dr. Farmer founded Zanmi Lasante, now Haiti’s largest non-government healthcare system and built a state-of-the-art teaching hospital training new doctors, nurses and other healthcare works for Haiti’s future.

Dr. Farmer carried his mission to Rwanda, Peru, Lesotho, and Russia setting up healthcare systems for the underprivileged. Dr. Anthony Fauci, who was a friend and mentor to Dr. Farmer said, “He was a once-in-a-lifetime person.” He changed the face of healthcare in Haiti, and around the world.

We are deeply saddened by his death, yet eternally grateful to have had a man like Dr. Farmer on this earth for 62 years. Haitian Outreach, who shares this commitment to the people of Haiti, salute you, Dr. Farmer!