PSI, through its local member Organisation Haïtienne de Marketing Social pour la Santé (OHMaSS), uses market development approaches in its health programs to increase access to care so that consumers can take ownership over their health.
Organisation Haïtienne de Marketing Social pour la Santé
20, Impasse Chanlatte
Peguy-Ville, Haiti
Phone: + 509-3701-9040
info@ohmasshaiti.org
Organisation Haïtienne de Marketing Social pour la Santé (OHMaSS), established in 1995, has worked in Haiti in a variety of capacities, always aiming to bring care closer to the consumer. OHMaSS looks to help Haitians lead healthier lives and plan the families they desire by bringing affordable products and services to market. OHMaSS’s approaches range from free health product distribution to private sector support through the provision of essential health products and services in the following areas: HIV, sexual and reproductive health, maternal and child health, malaria and sanitation.
In 2018, OHMaSS saved more than 160,000 lives with its products and services, which include:
73,954
modern contraceptives distributed
OHMaSS places an emphasis on HIV/AIDS, TB and health system strengthening to help consumers and their families have increased access to quality healthcare services. OHMaSS’s work in HIV includes diagnosis, treatment and psychosocial care while TB services focus on diagnosis and care of both TB and multidrug-resistant TB. With health system strengthening, OHMaSS co-finances infrastructure and system improvements for the Ministry of Health and Population.
OHMaSS supports the increase of contraceptive supplies in the Haitian market through pharmaceutical channels and improving key behavioral determinants to positively influence adolescent girls and young women. The determinants identified and addressed through OHMaSS’s communication activities have been key to increasing knowledge about sexual health and breaking stigma around contraception.
OHMaSS uses a network of youth mentors to reach young children whose families have sent them to work in households as domestic servants, known as restaveks, with information about sexual and reproductive health, hygiene and menstruation information through a network of young peers known as Youth Mentors. This project uses community theater activities to address the stigma and discrimination faced by young restaveks, tailored to address key taboos and encourage positive behaviors in the community. OHMaSS uses mobile clinics to provide free, quality contraception services to restaveks who have chosen to use a method, always putting her needs at the center of any intervention.
OHMaSS supports the National Malaria Control Program to reduce malaria mortality to zero, eliminate local transmission by 2020 and maintain achieved progress until 2022. In addition to massive insecticide-treated net distribution, OHMaSS works with facilities to improve case management and capacity building for health workers, including those who work at the community level.
