Concern Worldwide Responds to Haiti Cholera Outbreak
Author: ConcernUSA.org
Published: 2010/10/23 - Updated: 2021/02/09
Topic: Warnings and Advisories - Publications List
Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main
Synopsis: Confirmed outbreak of cholera in Artibonite region of Haiti with 142 deaths reported and an estimated 1,000 people infected.
• Cholera is highly infectious and is a significant health risk in most refugee and displaced populations, especially in circumstances when people come from or pass through a cholera-affected area.
• Concern works in 28 of the world's poorest countries, including 17 sub-Saharan African nations, and reaches some 25 million people.
Introduction
This morning, Haitian President Rene Preval confirmed an outbreak of cholera in the rural Artibonite region of the country, with 142 deaths reported and an estimated 1,000 people infected. Artibonite, approximately 60 miles from Port-au-Prince, was affected by the devastating January 12th earthquake, and currently hosts thousands of displaced people who lost their homes in the quake.
Main Item
The Haitian government, along with the international humanitarian community and global health officials, have feared a cholera outbreak since the early days following the massive earthquake that left an estimated 1.2 million homeless and living in tent cities, with poor access to sanitation and clean water.
Largely due to coordinated efforts of aid agencies, the UN, and the Haitian government, to date there have been no large-scale outbreaks or increase in deaths in Port-au-Prince from waterborne illnesses, and no confirmed cases of cholera. This is hugely noteworthy, especially in the many overcrowded camps, where poor sanitation and lack of access to clean water were a major challenge. In Artibonite, the humanitarian community is responding rapidly - working closely with the Haitian government to set up cholera treatment centers and sensitization campaigns, and reinforcing outbreak preparedness efforts to prevent the disease from spreading to Port-au-Prince or surrounding areas.
Concern Worldwide Overseas Director Paul O'Brien stressed the seriousness of this outbreak as well as the preparedness measures the international community has had in place since the early days following the earthquake:
"Cholera is highly infectious and is a significant health risk in most refugee and displaced populations, especially in circumstances when people come from or pass through a cholera-affected area. The humanitarian community has been working closely with the Haitian government since the early days after earthquake to prevent an epidemic in Port-au-Prince, where huge numbers of people were at risk and extremely vulnerable." Says O'Brien,
"Our coordinated efforts thus far to prevent a major public health crisis from developing in Port-au-Prince have been successful. We are now working to support partners responding to the outbreak in Artibonite, while at the same time re-doubling water treatment and other prevention efforts to prevent the outbreak from spreading to Port-au-Prince."
Early detection, treatment protocols, cholera treatment units, health and hygiene awareness campaigns to at-risk populations, and measures to protect water supplies and sanitation are among the top priorities for any cholera response.
Elke Leidel, Concern Country Director in Haiti, says:
"Right now, prevention is possible: our teams in Port-au-Prince are distributing water purification tablets and we are increasing chlorination of water supplies. We have also already launched an intense public health and sensitization campaign to prevent at-risk communities from becoming infected. Alerting people living in overcrowded camps to boil their drinking water, use water purification tablets, wash their hands with soap, and where to seek treatment at the first signs of illness - these are simple messages, but they can save lives."
Concern is currently providing clean water and sanitation (such as showers and latrines) to over 80,000 people in Port-au-Prince, and is reaching 130,000 people in Saut d'Eau and La Gonave with a rural recovery program that includes water and sanitation, shelter, and livelihoods. In addition to the other activities, Concern will also be broadcasting public health messages on the radio on an hourly basis in Saut d'Eau. (Saut d'Eau is in the Central Plateau, adjacent to Artibonite.)
Concern is coordinating with other lead agencies on active public health and preventative strategies. We are supporting our Alliance 2015 partner, ACTED, who are working in Artibonite. Concern has a team of over 400 staff working in Haiti, and has current emergency response and long-term recovery programs in health, nutrition, education, camp management, water and sanitation, and livelihoods.
Concern works in 28 of the world's poorest countries, including 17 sub-Saharan African nations, and reaches some 25 million people. The organization's goal is the ultimate elimination of extreme poverty and the reduction of suffering. The organization's programs focus on emergency relief and long-term development work in the areas of health, HIV and AIDS, livelihoods and education.
Updated Information (Editor):
24/10/2010
The number of cases in towns near Port-au-Prince is rising, and officials are worried the outbreak will reach the hundreds of thousands of Haitians left homeless by January's devastating quake and living in camps across the capital.
Reports were coming in of patients seeking treatment in clinics closer to Port-au-Prince because the St Nicholas hospital in the seaside city of St Marc is overcrowded, a spokeswoman for aid agency International Medical Corps said.
Dr Estrella Serrano, World Vision's emergency response health and nutrition manager, said: "If the epidemic makes its way to Port-au-Prince, where children and families are living in unsanitary, overcrowded camps, the results could be disastrous."
30/10/2010
CIDI Urges Appropriate Response to Haiti Cholera Outbreak - Americans Should Send Cash Donations to Best Aid Victims
The Center for International Disaster Information (CIDI) encourages Americans to respond appropriately and responsibly when considering sending donations to aid the victims of the cholera outbreak in Haiti. Americans wishing to help victims in the affected communities are encouraged to donate cash as an alternative to in-kind donations such as collections of over-the-counter medicines and bottled water. Cash donations are widely recognized as the most efficient and effective means of relief, a policy supported by CIDI's funding partner, the United States Agency for International Development's Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance, and those in the established international disaster response community.
The first cholera outbreak in Haiti in 50 years has resulted in more than 300 deaths and sickened more than 4,700. While the epidemic's death rate is slowing, the disease has begun to spread outside of the initial outbreak zones in Artibonite and Center provinces, with cases confirmed in two new provinces, Nord-Est and Nord. Officials from the World Health Organization have recommended that Haiti should prepare for the disease to spread to Port-au-Prince, where 1.3 million survivors of January's devastating earthquake are living in tent camps in and around the capital.
The cholera epidemic has increased the already difficult situation for the people of the earthquake-ravaged nation. Many aid organizations are already on the ground in Haiti and will be able to put Americans' generosity to use to best help the victims of the outbreak. Cash donations can be used to buy the medical supplies and emergency items needed on the ground, without the delay of collecting, packing, shipping and distributing in-kind items, which may be inappropriate for the victims.
"Americans can help the most by donating cash to an established relief agency," says Suzanne H. Brooks, Director of CIDI. "Haitians have suffered greatly over the past ten months and desperately need the public to respond appropriately. Helping the efforts of professional humanitarian relief agencies is the absolute best way to aid the cholera outbreak victims in Haiti."
Attribution/Source(s):
This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its significant relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by ConcernUSA.org, and published on 2010/10/23 (Edit Update: 2021/02/09), the content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity. For further details or clarifications, ConcernUSA.org can be contacted at ConcernUSA.org. NOTE: Disabled World does not provide any warranties or endorsements related to this article.