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Haiti - Cholera Epidemic : Les Cayes, dramatic situation 30/11/2010 10:13:51
The agglomeration of Les Cayes has a combined population of over 320,000 inhabitants. The city is approximately the size of Cap Haitien. Urban areas are densely populated, the poorest populations living near river mouths, no sanitation system. With its canals and open drains much of the city center located in flood zones, Les Cayes presents high risks of contamination. The number of people infected in the Southern Department, although it is less than the number of cases recorded in Port au Prince (note that the government refuses to reveal the true assessment of PAP and Metropolitan area since November 24, 2010), continues to increase. Until now, throughout the department, 12 zone of infection, including 5 located in the city have been identified. Official figures show 160 cases treated, but they are largely underestimated. Health authorities already sorely lacking resources, human and material to cope with a situation that continues to worsen. The only treatment center, a small structure built in emergency hospital in Les Cayes by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) Switzerland with the assistance of TDH, finds itself without the continued support of medical organizations. Located within the walls of the hospital, the CTU transitional, has a capacity of only 25 beds. women, men and children do not have separate spaces. Managed by inadequately trained personnel and overworked, lacking supervision, it recorded 10 to 15 daily admissions in recent days. It is completely saturated. Central Prison inmates are also referred. There is no system of management of contaminated waste, the drums of vomiting and diarrhea are full, others are full of medical supplies clothes mixed with the sick and other household waste. TDH trying stopgap, while providing support WASH, but without appointed loading area, storage and processing of waste remains a major problem. No location was identified by the authorities despite repeated requests for a month. MSF, which handles 80% of cases of cholera in the country, had to withdraw due to lack of available staff. Given the gravity of the situation, Medecins du Monde (MDM - Switzerland) sent two members of its medical staff for a few days. All indicators show that the epidemic will explode in the town of Les Cayes. It is already starting to hit the surrounding communities. There is an urgent need for mobilizing medical and WASH actors to establish as soon as possible a CTC of at least 100 beds, tailored to the needs of a city of 140,000 inhabitants and thus avoid the situation in South out of control. The Department of Public Health and Population (MSPP) lack of means, and have difficulty to mobilizing its staff. The intervention of a strong medical NGO is a need absolue. TDH launched an emergency appeal! HL/ HaitiLibre
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