On Monday, Prime Minister, Laurent Lamothe, and the Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon, launched in Las Palmas, a new initiative to provide water and sanitation services for over 3 million Haitians in the next five years, the "Total Sanitation Campaign".

The Government of Haiti, with the support of the United Nations, has developed this new water and sanitation program to fight against the spread of the disease and improve the lives of vulnerable households. "While all households do not have access to drinking water and sanitation facilities, cholera and other waterborne diseases remain a potential threat to vulnerable families across the country. We rely on the commitment of the United Nations and international partners to make this happen," stated the Prime Minister.

"Thank you to you all for the warm welcome you have given me. My visit to Los Palmas was rich in emotions: it was marked by sadness, but also hope [...] I am pleased to launch this campaign in Los Palmas. Together with its neighboring locality, Jacob, the men and women of the community have demonstrated what communities can do, with a little bit of help, to be the drivers of their own development.

The area of Los Palmas has had very limited access to basic health services.  It was significantly affected by cholera in the past.  But Los Palmas and Jacob have been free of cholera since early 2013. Thanks to community efforts and with our support, this area is now one of the few localities in Haiti that is considered a “green zone” in terms of sanitation standards. With partnership and support, similar progress can become a reality for every family in Haiti. [...] You can count on me and the United Nations to do my part," declared Ban Ki-moon.

The Secretary-General stressed the commitment of the United Nations to support this new initiative that reinforces and builds on ongoing efforts to eliminate the epidemic "I came here today to pay tribute to all Haitians who have lost loved ones due to the disease and reaffirm my personal commitment as well as that of the United Nations to support the Haitian authorities to put an end to the epidemic."

The "Total Sanitation Campaign" will begin with activities supported by the United Nations in 7 od communes the most affected by cholera in the Artibonite and Central. In the coming months, other partners such as the World Bank, plan to join the initiative by targeting additional communes affected.

The United Nations will continue to support the Ministry of Health in the intensification and extension of the vaccination campaign, which began in 2013. This new phase of the vaccination campaign is planned for the end of July and will target 200,000 people additional.

The first six months of 2014 have seen a significant reduction of cholera with a 74% reduction in the number of cases compared to the same period last year, progress due largely thanks to Joint interventions by the Government of Haiti, international partners and the public.

This "Total Sanitation Campaign", together with the extension of vaccination against cholera, will ensure not only to ensure that the end of cholera in Haiti is in sight, but also help to improve long-term basic services for all Haitians stressed the Head of Government.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-11593-haiti-politic-president-martelly-held-talks-with-ban-ki-moon.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-11581-haiti-cholera-four-departments-on-red-alert.html

HL/ HaitiLibre