GHESKIO Receives Pivotal Award to Advance Women’s Health in Haiti

“As women gain rights, families flourish, and so do societies. That connection is built on a simple truth: Whenever you include a group that's been excluded, you benefit everyone," – Melinda Gates

On November 12th, Weill Cornell’s long-standing partner in Haiti GHESKIO (the Haitian Group for the Study of Kaposi Sarcoma and Opportunistic Infections) was selected as a recipient of a Pivotal Award, to support women’s physical and mental health in Haiti. The Pivotal awards are supported by a funding initiative founded by Melinda French Gates.

In 2024, Pivotal, a global coalition of organizations launched Action for Women’s Health, as part of a $250 million commitment towards strengthening both the mental and physical well-being of women worldwide. The fund aims to reach communities where women’s health needs are most acute, ensuring access to reproductive health services and mental health care.

For four decades, GHESKIO has been a bedrock of care for Haitians, providing clinical services, advancing research, and supporting millions of low-income families. GHESKIO has provided free health services to poverty-stricken populations focusing on women and their families and emphasizing women’s empowerment. Their work has persisted against the backdrop of political instability and natural disasters that have reshaped the nation’s landscape. Despite all this, GHESKIO’s approach to providing care to individuals – women and their families -- has remained unwavering: community-driven, culturally grounded, and committed to equity.

The new funding will allow GHESKIO to expand innovative, locally led health programs that improve access for women and children who continue to face significant barriers to care. It will also strengthen initiatives that promote women’s empowerment, ensuring that women are active participants in shaping healthier futures for their communities. This Pivotal award underscores both the impact and urgent need to invest in women’s health to enable societies to become stronger and healthier.