ARTICLE - CHOLERA - LES CAYES - PROBLEMS

CHOLERA EPIDEMIC: LES CAYES, DRAMATIC SITUATION
(HaitiLibre.com)

The situation on the cholera epidemic front in the department of the South and particularly in the town of Les Cayes, is extremely worrying. Health services are totally overwhelmed while the number of cases continues to increase and no major medical aid agency is present in the area.

The fourth largest city does not currently have a treatment center to the extent of an intensifying humanitarian crisis. NGO "Terre des Hommes" (TDH) is launching an urgent appeal to all people with expertise in the care and treatment of cholera to mobilize quickly in order to set up a cholera treatment center (CTC).

The district 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 live in proximity to river mouths, and there is no sanitation system. With its canals and open drains much of the city center is located in a flood zone. Les Cayes presents a high risk for 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, there are 12 zones of infection that have been identified, including 5 located within the city. Official figures show 160 cases treated, but they are largely underestimated.

Health authorities already sorely lacking resources (both human and material), cope with a situation that continues to worsen. The only treatment center, a small structure built in haste at the 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 on the grounds of the hospital, the CTU, has a capacity of only 25 beds for women, men and children. There are not separate spaces to separate them. Managed by inadequately trained personnel, overworked, and lacking supervision, it has recorded 10 to 15 daily admissions in recent days. They are completely saturated. Central Prison inmates are also referred there.

There is no system of management for contaminated waste. The drums of vomit and diarrhea are full; others are overflowing with used medical supplies, clothes from the the sick and other waste. TDH is trying to provide WASH support , but without an appointed site, the storage and processing of waste remains a major problem. No location was identified by the authorities despite repeated requests during the 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 personnel 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 the South becoming out of control.

The Department of Public Health and Population (MSPP) lack the means, and have difficulty in mobilizing staff. The intervention of a strong medical NGO is an absolute need. TDH has launched an emergency appeal!