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Humanitarian Bulletin
Haiti
Issue 18 | 1 June 2012
...
Cholera response
Multiplication of cholera alerts
Four of the 10 departments - Artibonite, Nord-Est, Nord-Ouest and Ouest - have reported cholera alerts in May. The island of Gonave, IDP camps in Martissant and Carrefour in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area, as well as surrounding communities, also indicated an increase in new cases.
The Artibonite department is particularly affected because of its many cholera hotspots, including in remote areas, the lack of protection of water sources and poor hygiene practices.
The Health Cluster indicates that 20 per cent of the cases and 17 per cent of the deaths nationwide come from the department. On the other hand, the number of partners has gradually decreased from 20 to 7 due to
funding constraints.
PAHO adds that most of the alerts in the country have been recorded since 1 April due to the early onset of the rainy season. Response capacity will not be sufficient should this trend continue. The decline in humanitarian funding in Haiti since the second half of 2011 has reduced the capacity of health partners to face resurgence of cholera. At the peak of the epidemic in June 2011, 2,500 beds were available in the country. Today, most of the existing 814 beds are already occupied.
Given the limits imposed by declining aid budgets, the Health Cluster adjusted its priorities for the next six months. It will focus on providing treatment for cholera patients in areas affected by cholera, particularly remote regions and IDP camps, and prevent the spread of the vibrio cholerae and other infectious diseases. It will also support the establishment of a coordination system in case of public health emergencies during natural disasters.
Cholera spreads to schools hosting IDPs
Cases of cholera were reported on 16 May in four public schools sharing space with IDP camps in the metropolitan area of Martissant. This confirms the risks related to the cohabitation between the displaced and school children, reports the Education Cluster.
In response to these outbreaks, UNICEF, through its implementing partner ADRA, distributed water purification tablets, soap, buckets and chlorine to promote handwashing. School inspectors of the Ouest Department organized hygiene awareness campaigns for school children and their teachers.
Some 24 public schools, most of them dilapidated, share their water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure with IDP camps occupying the school perimeter. Cases of genderbased violence, theft of school equipment and fires were also reported by the Cluster.
Education partners are working closely with OCHA, IOM and the CCCM / Emergency Shelter Cluster to develop a common strategy on consistent vulnerability criteria which would form the basis of camp selection criteria for the relocation of their residents. The aim is to influence government policies and practices, donors and other partners to target the most vulnerable IDPs and provide a safe environment in schools. The government of Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe says the closure of camps located on school grounds is
one of his priorities.
...
Haiti
Issue 18 | 1 June 2012
...
Cholera response
Multiplication of cholera alerts
Four of the 10 departments - Artibonite, Nord-Est, Nord-Ouest and Ouest - have reported cholera alerts in May. The island of Gonave, IDP camps in Martissant and Carrefour in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area, as well as surrounding communities, also indicated an increase in new cases.
The Artibonite department is particularly affected because of its many cholera hotspots, including in remote areas, the lack of protection of water sources and poor hygiene practices.
The Health Cluster indicates that 20 per cent of the cases and 17 per cent of the deaths nationwide come from the department. On the other hand, the number of partners has gradually decreased from 20 to 7 due to
funding constraints.
PAHO adds that most of the alerts in the country have been recorded since 1 April due to the early onset of the rainy season. Response capacity will not be sufficient should this trend continue. The decline in humanitarian funding in Haiti since the second half of 2011 has reduced the capacity of health partners to face resurgence of cholera. At the peak of the epidemic in June 2011, 2,500 beds were available in the country. Today, most of the existing 814 beds are already occupied.
Given the limits imposed by declining aid budgets, the Health Cluster adjusted its priorities for the next six months. It will focus on providing treatment for cholera patients in areas affected by cholera, particularly remote regions and IDP camps, and prevent the spread of the vibrio cholerae and other infectious diseases. It will also support the establishment of a coordination system in case of public health emergencies during natural disasters.
Cholera spreads to schools hosting IDPs
Cases of cholera were reported on 16 May in four public schools sharing space with IDP camps in the metropolitan area of Martissant. This confirms the risks related to the cohabitation between the displaced and school children, reports the Education Cluster.
In response to these outbreaks, UNICEF, through its implementing partner ADRA, distributed water purification tablets, soap, buckets and chlorine to promote handwashing. School inspectors of the Ouest Department organized hygiene awareness campaigns for school children and their teachers.
Some 24 public schools, most of them dilapidated, share their water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure with IDP camps occupying the school perimeter. Cases of genderbased violence, theft of school equipment and fires were also reported by the Cluster.
Education partners are working closely with OCHA, IOM and the CCCM / Emergency Shelter Cluster to develop a common strategy on consistent vulnerability criteria which would form the basis of camp selection criteria for the relocation of their residents. The aim is to influence government policies and practices, donors and other partners to target the most vulnerable IDPs and provide a safe environment in schools. The government of Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe says the closure of camps located on school grounds is
one of his priorities.
...