Minutes from Ministry of Health and Planification Meeting: action towards Cholera Epidemic in the North Region 11/11/10

Statements in bold indicate either problems identified with no fixed solution or action plans.

 

22^nd October – first case in north – Ba Mer Limbe

After two weeks, we started receiving patients from Concorde in Cap.

90% of patients received at the gymnasium have been from outside Cap Haitien.

Youngest death: age 3

The 2 hospitals in Limbe are both at maximum capacity.  There is a lack of medication.

The gymnasium in Cap is full (852 people diagnosed; 70 deaths to date) (next to Justinien Hospital)

Main problems identified within community:

• Not enough clean water – people forced to drink infected water.  MSPP trying to instigate system to treat this water.  Are looking at creating a chlorine-treated reservoir (300 gallons)


• Canals are full after heavy rainfall therefore nowhere for dirty water to drain to


• People are afraid to help each other as they are afraid of it spreading

Using TV, schools, church as means to educate and advise the communities, but feel this is not enough as not enough people are accessing these services.  Would like to action a megaphone campaign on the streets.

We need to come together as one so we can make a difference in fighting the cholera.  We will have to fight many battles and will lose people along the way.  But we should come together to find a solution.

Comment: Water has become expensive and difficult to find.  People are anxious. 

If the spread continues at this rate, it is estimated that 10,000 people in the north will be affected within the next few months.

The Mayor’s comment : understands the problems.  Gave example of patient with hypertension treated for cholera but was negative – later died.

Need more tents to be able to treat more people.  Difficulty in getting hold of more tents – Haiti cannot provide them themselves.  The UN have money reserved for the Director of Healthcare/MSPP but have not received it yet.

Discussion on where to accommodate patients: tents, rooms for temporary use – no decision made

There are 300 water systems ready to go – costing HT$2,500

Trying to get more trucks of treated water but cost HT$600 per truck (some HT$300)

What can we all provide to help?

List to be sent round by email this afternoon so all organisations can state how they can help.

Please contact the network if you would like access to this list.