A rumor has been circulating for a few days in the capital, suggesting that some international organizations and United Nations Agencies (UN) seek to recruit voluntary, health personnel in Haiti for missions in Africa in the zones infected with Ebola virus.

While the United Nations has launched an appeal for international solidarity in the fight against this terrible epidemic, it seems hard to believe that international organizations seek to recruit health resources in Haiti, while the country has no qualified personnel in this field.

The information has nevertheless provoked a strong reaction in Haiti of Ministers of Health (Dr Florence D. Guillaume), Interior (Réginald Delva) and defense (Major Lener Renauld), who in a joint statement, oppose strongly to such a practice and put on it a formal ban in Haiti, by any agency whatsoever.

Txt of Statement signed by the 3 Ministers :

"The Ministry of Public Health and Population was surprised to learn through social networking that some international organizations and United Nations Agencies would call for candidates to recruit Haitian volunteers on short missions in Africa in Ebola-infected areas.

n its mission to protect the health of the population in a country where socio-economic and health conditions are still dire, and in compliance with the International Health Regulations guiding countries on procedures to follow in case of event of public health constituting threats to states as is currently the case of Ebola, the Ministry of Public Health and Population appealed to the good sense of every citizen, to avoid making trips to the affected areas and avoid other situations more dramatic than what we have experienced in the recent past.

The Ministry of Health partners with the Ministry of Interior and Territorial Communities as well as that of National Defense to oppose to such practice and puts on it a ormal ban in Haiti, by any agency whatsoever.

The Ministries of Health, Interior and National Defense rely on all stakeholders, each as it is concerned, for the strict compliance of the measure and asked to use the number 177 for sharing information on any exceptions observed or experienced."

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-11966-haiti-health-ebola-the-ministry-of-health-denies-rumors.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-11745-haiti-health-the-mssp-concerned-about-ebola-and-yellow-fever.html

HL/ S/ HaitiLibre