ARTICLE - CHOLERA - 300 BEDS AVAILABLE IN PAP

HAITI - CHOLERA: 300 BEDS AVAILABLE IN THE METROPOLITAN AREA OF PORT-AU-PRINCE
(HaitiLibre) -

Yesterday, Friday, during the weekly press briefing, of the UN Mission for Stabilization in Haiti (Minustah), Emmanuelle Schneider, spokeswoman of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Haiti (OCHA) has indicated that the rains of June 6 and 7 have had an impact on the cholera epidemic.

"A significant increase in outbreaks of cholera are reported across the country and particularly in Port-au-Prince and in the departments of the West, Southeast, South, Grand Anse, Artibonite and Centre" precise Ms. Schneider.

A second wave of the epidemic
"Everything suggests that this is a second wave of the cholera epidemic, or a second peak" adding that in the metropolitan area 300 beds are available. "The total capacity of beds in the metropolitan area of ​​Port-au-Prince has increased from 1,400 to 2,465. The average bed occupancy is 1,913, which means that 300 beds are available at any time to accommodate new patients." She also recalled that "The call number 300 (*300), which is a warning system for ambulance transport of patients, was reactivated, adding that "the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has also set up an alert system in camps. A major awareness campaign, organized by the Health Directorate of the West (DSO), in collaboration with health partners, was launched in Carrefour and Martissant which are among the hardest hit areas of the metropolitan area of ​​Port-au-Prince."

Strengthening
All health partners, in support to the Ministry of Health, increased their activities, particularly in the Artibonite, and in the Central Department, which are areas heavily affected by the cholera epidemic.

Additional medical supplies (catheters, doxicycline, erythromycin and syrup) was made ​​available. Material for the construction of latrines were distributed by PAHO that provides support to 22 hospitals to analyze the water quality. More community mobilization teams have also been deployed. This is the case in Maïssade where 400 community mobilizers on hygiene and prevention have been mobilized. Drainage works are taking place at the hospital of Les Cayes, in the Southern Department, which had been completely flooded. The warehouse of the Pan American Health Organization has sufficient stocks of drugs to treat 5,000 patients suffering from the most severe forms of cholera.

Only 53%
To conclude, the spokeswoman of the office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Haiti (OCHA) noted that "the response to cholera was funded at 53%; of a total of $175 million, we received $92 million" adding that "this is a major concern that is likely to jeopardize the response capacity of the international community to cholera, in support to the Ministry of Health."