Karine Duverger is AHF Haiti’s Country Program Manager. Her story is next in our “I Am AHF” series featuring remarkable staff, clients, and partners who are doing what’s right to save lives every day.
HIV/AIDS has always been deeply personal for me. In September 1989, I lost my aunt, the first member of our family to succumb to AIDS. The following year, I lost three childhood friends to the disease while they were still living in Haiti. In 1992, another childhood friend was diagnosed with HIV in Cameroon, Africa. She eventually returned to the United States for treatment and, thanks to advancements in medical research and her persistence, is still living with an undetectable status 33 years later.
Tragically, in 1993, I lost my father to AIDS. Visiting him in Haiti, I saw firsthand how severe the stigma was, so severe that nurses and doctors were afraid to touch him. At that time, being HIV positive in Haiti was seen as a death sentence.
These early experiences shaped my purpose and passion. Today, 32 years later, I serve as Country Program Manager for AHF Haiti, a role I have held for the past 10 years, leading one of the largest HIV/AIDS programs in the country. Under my leadership, AHF Haiti has made significant strides, particularly in advocating for the LGBTQ+ community. Just three years ago, mentioning gay pride was nearly impossible in Haiti; today, we have successfully held three Pride Day events across the country.
Losing family and friends and witnessing stigma and silence instilled in me a determination to help others facing similar struggles. Through my work with AHF, I have worked inside Haiti’s prisons, clinics, and communities, witnessing both the challenges people face and their extraordinary courage. I see every day how compassion, education, and access to care can transform lives. This cause is not just my profession; it is part of who I am.
People do not die from HIV; they die from stigma and ignorance. When we choose understanding over fear and empathy over silence, we create a world where everyone can live, love, and be treated with respect.
The work we do in Haiti is not easy. Violence, poverty, and instability have created a humanitarian crisis affecting every aspect of daily life, including healthcare. Many health workers can’t safely travel, and patients often fear leaving their homes. Despite these challenges, AHF Haiti remains on the front lines. Clinics remain open, mobile teams reach communities where people are, and lifesaving HIV services continue. The biggest obstacles are insecurity, displacement, and broken systems, but our team has shown extraordinary courage, decentralizing services and working with local partners to ensure treatment and testing continue.
Haiti’s crisis has slowed progress in HIV prevention and care but also revealed the strength and resilience of our people. It has reminded us that compassion and innovation must go hand in hand. My vision is of a Haiti where healthcare is accessible to all, stigma no longer exists, and young people grow up knowing HIV is a manageable condition. With AHF’s support, we are restoring dignity and hope, one person at a time.
Some moments stand out in my heart. During a Girls Act meeting, a young girl told me that the meal she receives at our weekly gathering is the only hot meal she eats all week. The look in her eyes—a mix of gratitude and hope—reminded me that our work is about dignity, love, and human connection.
Another powerful moment occurred during a prison outreach visit when a young man living with HIV told me, “You are the first person who treated me like a human being.” These experiences reaffirm that AHF is not just providing care; we are restoring hope and showing people that their lives matter.
Outside of work, I cherish activities that bring joy and connection. Music, concerts, and dancing with friends and family rejuvenate me. I also value family time, volunteering, and collecting paintings that tell stories of resilience and culture. These passions keep me balanced and remind me that life, like our work at AHF, is about love, art, and community.
