Date Published: 12 March 2013

MSF reports on deplorable conditions for cholera patients in Haiti

Insufficient funds and supplies has adversely affected cholera treatment programmes in Haiti, leading to unnecessary deaths and increasing the risk of greater outbreaks during the forthcoming rainy season, according to the international medical humanitarian organisation Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).

In recent evaluations of public health facilities in four Haitian departments, namely Artibonite, Nippes, Southeast and North, MSF found that the quality of cholera treatment has declined significantly over the last 12 months due to funding shortfalls.

" Some of the staff at the cholera treatment centress have not been paid for several months," said Dr Mamady Traoré, MSF deputy medical coordinator, who participated in the Artibonite assessment in late December 2012.
" Infrastructure and equipment are worn out because they haven't been maintained and there are frequent shortages of medical supplies. As a result, hygiene precautions that are essential to limiting the spread of the disease are no longer enforced. Sometimes patients are left without treatment or must pay to obtain it. That is intolerable."

Cholera-related mortality has risen since late 2012 in Haiti's North Department.

" The mortality rate exceeds four per cent in certain treatment centres ? this is four times the acceptable rate," said Joan Arnan, who was in charge of the evaluation.
" This reveals the shortcomings in treatment. Cholera is not difficult to treat if it's done promptly. But sometimes there are only two nurses to manage 50 patients. That's not nearly enough to ensure quality care."

In December 2012, the United Nations launched an appeal for $2.2 billion to fund a plan by the Haitian Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP) to eliminate cholera by 2022. The plan is yet to be funded, leaving many current cholera patients without adequate treatment.

" Cholera now appears to be seen as a development issue to be resolved over the next 10 years, whereas the current situation still calls for an emergency medical response," said Duncan McLean, MSF programme manager in New York.
" The necessary resources for such a response are becoming increasingly scarce."

The deplorable state of the treatment centres suggests that the worst is yet to come with the forthcoming rainy season. In 2011 and 2012, rains led to sudden local epidemic spikes between May and November.

" Prevention ? by improving water, sanitation, hygiene conditions and vaccinations?is obviously the long-term solution, but sufficient resources are still needed today to treat patients and prevent deaths," said Oliver Schulz, MSF head of mission in Haiti.
" The priority today must be to strengthen the treatment centres and the early warning and rapid response systems. The Haitian government and international donors need to ensure that existing treatment sites are equipped and staffed before the rains. That means as soon as possible."

News is included on the IvyRose website to inform visitors about current health issues, but not to endorse any particular view or activity. Any views expressed in the article above are not necessarily those of IvyRose Ltd.. Material in this news item was released by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) on 12 March 2013 and may have been edited (e.g. in style, length, and/or for ease of understanding by our international readers) for inclusion here. For further information, please visit their website.