Haiti's Cholera Crisis Worsens as NGO's Get Ready to Pull Up States for Lack of Funding

CHOLERA, DIARRHEA AND DYSENTERY UPDATE 2011 (18): HAITI, DOMINICAN


REPUBLIC

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In this update:

[1] Haiti

[2] Dominican Republic



*****

[1] Haiti

Date: Tue 28 Jun 2011

Source: AlertNet [edited]







There was a rise in the number of cholera cases reported in May and

early June 2011, particularly around Port-au-Prince and in the

southern peninsula (Grand Anse, Nippes, Sud and Sud-Est) as well as in

Artibonite and Nord. This increase may be due in part to the beginning

of the rainy season and the flooding that hit the capital. Between 2

May 2011 and 12 Jun 2011, a total of 18 182 new cases were notified in

Port-au-Prince, where 90 percent of the 2300 beds in cholera treatment

facilities were occupied. As of 21 Jun 2011, the occupancy rate had

dropped to 72 percent.



On 12 Jun 2011, the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) reported 344 623

cases of cholera and 5397 related deaths (average case fatality rate

1.6 percent) since the beginning of the outbreak in October 2010.



Poor access to clean water and proper sanitation remains the main

challenge in fighting the epidemic. Water-trucking is now down to 20

percent of what it was after the earthquake. According to the Water

and Sanitation Cluster, about 1/3rd of the non-governmental

organizations (NGOs) supporting camps in Port-au-Prince will be

closing down their water-trucking and sewage removal activities over

the next few months because funds are running out. Lack of sanitation

facilities and the maintenance of existing latrines remain critical

problems in the camps. WHO/PAHO supports all cholera treatment

facilities to ensure safe water is available for patients and

sanitation measures are respected.



According to Health Cluster partners, as of 14 Jun 2011 there were 38

cholera treatment centres and 216 cholera treatment units functioning

in Haiti. Most of the facilities are financed by NGOs. While support

continues in Port-au-Prince, many NGOs are scaling down operations in

rural areas and transferring responsibilities to the MoPH, which does

not have sufficient funds to cover health personnel.



--

Communicated by:

ProMED-mail





[As funds evaporate and rainy season water causing flooding does not,

the epidemic of _V. cholerae_ continues to plague Haiti. The country

had major problems with potable water which was made disastrously

worse by the earthquake.



The current rainy season is further exposing the problems with access

to clean water. - Mod.LL]



*****

[2] Dominican Republic

Date: Thu Jun 30 2011

Source: Dominican Today [edited]







The Dominican Medical Association (CMD) yesterday, Wed 29 Jun 2011,

called the country's cholera epidemic out of control, and asked the

Government to be more responsible in dealing with society's ample

segments of poverty.



CMD president Senen Caba also said he doubts the Health Ministry's

claims of a lower infant mortality rate.



He affirmed that there are more than 15 000 cholera cases and dozens

of deaths which haven't been properly reported, citing hospitals in

Santo Domingo, San Pedro (east), San Cristobal, Elías Pina and La

Romana as having the most patients.



Caba affirmed that on average the hospitals receive 30 cases per day.

Most of the patients reside in poor barrios in greater Santo Domingo

and several provinces.



The doctors said the evidence the epidemic has gone out of control is

that the Health Ministry has requested meetings with leaders of the

water sector.



--

Communicated by:

ProMED-mail





[The rainy season in DR is exposing the problems with accessibility

to clean water in the country. - Mod.LL]



[Locator map for Haiti & the Dominican republic:



- Mod.JW]



[see also:

Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2011 (17): Haiti, DR

20110624.1939

Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2011 (16): Asia, Africa

20110622.1910

Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2011 (15): Asia, Africa

20110617.1849

Cholera - USA: (NY): RFI 20110616.1840

Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2011: (14): Haiti, DR

20110606.1726

Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2011 (13): Ukraine (DT)

20110603.1697

Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2011: (12): Haiti, DR

20110524.1579

Cholera O75 - USA: (FL) raw oysters, warning 20110511.1443

Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2011 (11): Haiti, UN report

20110505.1392

Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2011 (10): Mexico (SI) alert

20110430.1334

Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2011 (09): Africa

20110419.1219

Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2011 (08): Americas, Asia

20110419.1216

Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2011 (07): Haiti, upswing in

cases 20110413.1163

Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2011 (06): Americas, Asia

20110404.1040

Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2011 (05): Africa

20110403.1033

Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2011 (04) 20110222.0582

Cholera - USA (03): (NY) ex Dominican Rep. banquet 20110208.0429

Cholera - Venezuela (03): ex Dominican Rep. banquet, lobster

20110131.0368

Cholera - USA (03): (NY) ex Dominican Rep. banquet 20110130.0364

Cholera - Venezuela (02): ex Dominican Rep. banquet, lobster

20110128.0335

Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2011 (03) 20110128.0333

Cholera - USA: (MA) ex Dominican Rep., banquet 20110127.0326

Cholera - Venezuela: ex Dominican Rep., banquet 20110127.0325

Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2011 (02) 20110118.0215

Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2011 20110109.0101]

.................................................ll/ejp/jw

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