Faces of recovery: Looking towards a better life

Marie Myrlène Théolien a nurse at LESPWA, a UN-supported hospital in Jérémie, in Grande-Anse, says she hopes the earthquake which caused widespread devastation in her home town will provide people with the motivation to create a “better life”.

“The earthquake on 14 August caused a lot of destruction in the south of the country and my house was also badly damaged. I like many other people here are really motivated to rebuild and recover after this disaster. In the future, we must make sure that we are better prepared for events like this, so fewer people die. We also need to make sure that our people are healthy and for that, we need more support.

So, I have continued to work as a nurse and am now focused on trying to get people vaccinated against COVID-19 by explaining why it is so important to be protected. Many, however, do not believe that the virus exists.

We have all lost a lot during the earthquake, but I hope these losses can help us to move on to greater things. I am optimistic that our future can be better, but we do need help."