Kidnappers took his staff, then his son. But this Haiti doctor is refusing to flee
Kidnappers took his staff, then his son. But this Haiti doctor is refusing to flee
Dr Jean William ‘Bill’ Pape runs free health services and says people’s needs cannot wait for an end to the gang warfare that is tearing the country apart
Summary
Dr. Jean William “Bill” Pape, founder of Haiti’s Gheskio health clinics, continues providing critical care despite escalating gang violence that has crippled the nation’s healthcare system.
His son was kidnapped last year, held for months, and released after the family paid multiple ransoms and community pressure mounted.
Over 70% of Gheskio staff have fled the country, while kidnappings and malnutrition rise. Pape remains hopeful, advocating for community resilience and local solutions.
A pioneer in HIV/AIDS research, Pape now addresses Haiti’s cardiovascular crisis, insisting on public health innovation amid adversity.
I really want to admire this guy's courage, but with everything that's happened in Haiti, it feels more like stubborn stupidity at this point. I hope things change and he comes through this okay, because he sounds like a pretty rad human being, all things considered.