The funeral of journalist Matiado Vilmé in Pétion-Ville: a poignant tribute to a voice of Haitian journalism lost too soon

Journalist Matiado Vilmé, correspondent for Voice of America (VOA), received a final tribute this Tuesday, February 10, at Saint-Jude Church in Meyotte, Pétion-Ville. Family, friends, and colleagues from the media world were present to honor the journey of a courageous, committed, and deeply human woman.

Matiado Vilmé, 36 years old, passed away on Sunday, February 1, 2026, after a long battle with rectal cancer. Mother of two children, a 15-year-old daughter and a 4-year-old son. She leaves behind a grieving family and an indelible mark on Haitian journalism.

Her journey battling the illness was marked by nearly two years of courage. After the removal of her rectum on July 3, 2024, she underwent 18 chemotherapy sessions. An X-ray on May 16, 2025, revealed suspected bone spread to the coccyx. Doctors recommended radiochemotherapy, a treatment unfortunately unavailable in Haiti.

Tributes during the ceremony highlighted her professionalism and determination. Journalists and friends recalled her unwavering commitment, notably on December 24, 2024, during the shooting at HUEH which left three dead and several injured. Despite the danger, Matiado Vilmé helped her injured colleagues.

Emotion reached its peak when one of her colleagues denounced the lack of support from the Haitian state in the journalist's treatment. “All our efforts with the Minister of Public Health and the director of OFATMA proved futile,” he stated, emphasizing that the lack of early care cost Matiado Vilmé her life.

The journalist's eldest daughter also spoke, moved, while her father, Ylrick Vilmé, insisted on the need for a dignified burial to honor her memory. Beyond the grief, Matiado Vilmé's passing recalls the legacy she leaves: a humanist, courageous, and committed journalism that carried Haiti's voice beyond its borders and inspired colleagues and citizens through her dedication and solidarity.

Gédéon Delva