Haiti cholera response: Epidemic rapidly grows
The death toll from the cholera outbreak in Haiti has reached 1,186, with 19,646 registered hospitalizations. The United Nations has projected that as many as 200,000 people may ultimately be affected. Cholera has also been reported in the neighboring Dominican Republic (most recent situation report). Samaritan's Purse UK have sent out 2 volunteers to Haiti and are looking to send more medical professionals to help amidst the crisis.
Cholera cases have now been reported in every region of Haiti, a striking realisation of just how widespread the epidemic is and how quickly it is spreading among fragile people who still haven’t recovered from the earthquake in January or Hurricane Tomas in early November.
“The reality is hitting us… this is big,” said Roseann Dennery, a Samaritan’s Purse staff member in Haiti. “As the numbers climb in the reports and more statements come out, the concern increases of how this thing could really mushroom. ”The cholera outbreak has killed more than 1,000 people. The death toll is expected to rise now that is has entered the makeshift camps teeming with people who were made homeless in January's massive earthquake, officials said. The latest Ministry of Public Health report available said that 1,034 people were dead and 16,799 were hospitalised.
Dr. Tom Wood, an epidemiologist and director of the Samaritan’s Purse medical response, predicts the number of cases will continue to grow for at least two more weeks.
The sheer volume of cases is threatening to overwhelm already crowded medical facilities.
Men, women, and children are arriving at the Samaritan’s Purse clinic in Bercy by taxi, on foot, and by tap-taps, carrying the weak and collapsed. Small children and infants come in on the edge of death. Their shallow breathing and dull responsiveness show how the bacteria is overtaking their bodies.
At 4 a.m. Tuesday, doctors and nurses at the facility north of Port-au-Prince were treating 122 patients. By 5 a.m., the number had grown to 167. The 125 beds at the clinic are filled beyond capacity. Children are sharing beds.
“Our medical staff is tired, emotionally and physically,” Dennery said. “They have great attitudes and are real troopers, but are working 12 hour shifts with deaths most shifts.”
In addition to the clinic in Bercy, Samaritan’s Purse is operating a rehydration center in Cite Soleil, the largest slum in Port-au-Prince. The facility is equipped with 40 beds to handle patients needing IV treatment and 80 beds for oral rehydration. The center is also focusing on training nurses and doctors in cholera treatment.
A new 200-bed clinic is being set up in Cite Soleil. Samaritan’s Purse construction teams expect to have the facility completed by the end of the week.
“As our staff responds and mobilises more people and more resources, God is giving us more grace, and more compassion to serve each person we see,” Dennery said. “In our own strength, it doesn’t make sense that we would be able to save thousands of people's lives here. But because our hope is in God alone, we can. We continue fighting and hoping.”
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