Haiti Cholera Outbreak: A Light at the End of the Tunnel
Haiti has been plagued with corruption since the very beginning. One of Haiti’s major problems would be its lack of sanitation.
After overcoming a major earthquake in 2010, Haiti was left with cholera. This disease is killed thousands of people and is continuing to sicken the people in Haiti.
The United Nations has claimed responsibility for this disease. Yet, the Haitian government and World Health Organization are putting little effort in helping heal what is known as home to many.
Haiti is suffering with poor infrastructure and poverty. The earthquake in 2010 only made matters worse. Organizations from around the world tried to help Haiti, including United Nations peacekeepers. The organization that prides itself on building peace and providing security for countries in conflict. Yet in this instance failed to do so.
Cholera is transmitted through the consumption of unclean water or food not properly prepared. It causes extreme diarrhea and vomiting within two hours to five days. Although, the feces of a contaminated person is often the source of contamination. In Haiti there are no public toilet facilities, but the toilets in hotels or restaurants. The United Nations peacekeepers had just arrived from Nepal where the cholera illness was first reported. The UN members carried the illness to the city of Artibonite, Haiti.
The outbreak rapidly spread along the Artibonite river.
The latest epidemiological report by the World Health Organization reported in 2018 there was a total of 812,586 cases of cholera in Haiti since October 2010, resulting in 9,606 deaths.
The constant excretion of bodily fluids leads to dehydration and as a result death.
Most people infected with cholera do not report any symptoms, yet the bacteria is still present in their feces and placed back into the environment. As a result there are more deaths occurring outside of treatment centers and more out in the cities. Improving Haiti’s water and sanitation infrastructure is critical to achieving large health gains and reducing the opportunity for cholera to spread.
To rid Haiti of cholera, the Haitian government should investigate where cases are mostly reported and aim to create a safer water source in those areas and expand. They should inform them on the dangers of the open water, how to properly prepare meals, the importance of good hygiene, and encourage the community not to defecate in public areas. To prevent more outbreaks they should provide oral vaccinations as something mandatory.
The World Health Organization has provided 12 treatment centers within a few cities in Haiti. But, it should build more treatment centers so those who are unable to reach those cities can receive treatment. Many Haitian families are unable to properly bury their loved ones, instead of tossing their lifeless bodies into a ditch or fire. This organization should also provide ways to properly distribute the bodies.
In February, Haiti shut down for 11 days, according to the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF).
There were fights between national police and demonstrators that flared across the country. Violent protests resulted in business closure and populations which had narrow or no access to essential services and goods such as fuel, electricity, water, domestic gas, and food.
As a result, hospitals, prisons and orphanages faced water shortages and lacked necessities, due to insecurity.
In 2015, the World Bank partnered with the National Directorate of Drinking Water and Sanitation and created an approach called “Budget Program by Objectives.” Allowing the institution to create a database on the country. They have recently come to the conclusion that in 2030, the people in Haiti will be provided 100% access to clean water, 80% access to basic sanitation, and 20% to individual sanitation. An annual funding of $124 million is required.
The United States can help with this requirement and provide antibiotics and medical supplies for these centers to be fully equipped. Safe water and sanitation is critical to control the transmission of cholera and other waterborne diseases.
