Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Petite Riviere (Agenzia Fides) – The cholera emergency in Haiti continues, where hundreds of deaths have been confirmed by the severe infection that is affecting the country. This is what Fides learned from a source in Petite Riviere, near the epicenter of the epidemic, Father Scott Binet, Camillian medical doctor, International Coordinator of the Camillian Task Force, President of SOS Doctors (CTF-SOS DRS). “It is difficult to give exact details about this ever-changing cholera epidemic in Haiti, a country still suffering from the effects of the Jan. 12 earthquake that devastated a people that were already subject to a very underdeveloped social and healthcare infrastructure. In any case, the number of confirmed deaths from the cholera epidemic in Haiti as of 10/26 has surpassed 300. And these have been confined largely to the Artibonite region where the illness first appeared. There thousands of people have presented with watery diarrhea, fever and severe dehydration – signs of a possible cholera infection. The appearance of cholera was much unexpected in a country that had not seen an outbreak of the illness in more than half a century,” says Fr. Scott.
“The death rate from the disease seems to be diminishing though. People are becoming more aware of the disease and health experts are providing treatment and emphasizing prevention through correct hygiene. Recent figures indicate that there are some 1,300 camps for internally displaced persons that number around 1,500,000 – many living in and around the capital Port au Prince. At Charles Colimon Hospital in Petite Riviere out of which CTF-SOS DRS is based and that MSF is coordinating, there have been more than 500 cases of acute watery diarrhea that have been treated with IV or oral hydration. The number of cases arriving everyday is in the range of 60 and has been steady for several days now. The hospital is full of children and adults who are distributed in tents. CTF-SOS DRS together with Doctors of the World, another NGO in Port au Prince, is looking to open up a 4-8 bed cholera prevention/treatment facility in Solino next to a camp containing 6,500 internally displaced persons (IDPs).”
As for the causes of the epidemic, the Camillian doctor says that the reasons are unclear as this has not occurred on the island since 1960. “It is not clear if the cause of the outbreak will ever be identified, but health experts agree that for cholera to occur, bad sanitation and hygiene have to coincide with people carrying the vibrio cholerae bacterium. The cholera bacteria could have been present in the Artibonite River or a stagnant water source even before the earthquake. Watery diarrhea has been common in the country, causing 5% to 16% of the deaths among Haitian children. there is a 'high risk' of the cholera spreading across the border of the island of Hispaniola to Dominican Republic. Haiti will likely remain a humanitarian crisis well into 2011. The recovery and reconstruction effort in post-earthquake Haiti is going very slowly for all sorts of reasons. There are issues to address including protection – especially of women and girls from sexual violence – sanitation, and assessment of survivors’ needs. Shelter, potable water and medicines are badly needed at this time as well. Many houses are destroyed and some are beyond repair. It remains to be seen how the upcoming Nov 28 elections will affect or be affected by the outbreak.”
Fr. Scott concludes his appeal to the international community by telling everyone: “First of all, don’t forget Haiti and her people. And have compassion on them. Their suffering is both recent and longstanding: recently, because of the January 12 earthquake and now the cholera epidemic. But many Haitians were already in a situation of chronic poverty and underdevelopment. As a priest and a doctor I recognize that man is a composite of body and soul. To treat one to the neglect of the other is to do a disservice to our fellow man. And the Haitians are deserving of our help and compassion as much as anyone – even more in a certain sense given their difficult circumstances. So have compassion on them. Say a prayer, offer a hand, find an organization you can trust and support it in some way – financially or otherwise. Be in solidarity with the Haitians in any way you can.” (AP/SB) (Agenzia Fides 3/11/2010)
