PAHO - Pan American Health Organization

Published purpose

22 November 2010 – The cholera epidemic in Haiti has killed 1,344 people and 23,377 have been hospitalized according to the Haitian Ministry of Health (MSPP). There are also many cases and deaths in the community and remote areas that go unreported as these individuals are unable to access medical services on time. The epidemic has spread from the Artibonite region to most of the country, including Port-au-Prince and the camps, which are home to 1.3 million people displaced by the January earthquake. CIDA is supporting PAHO’s work with the MSPP in coordinating the overall response to the cholera epidemic, and in providing technical support and guidance to authorities and cluster partners in combating cholera. Other activities include: supporting nation-wide public information campaigns; the establishment of community therapeutic care units through the provision of large tents, communications equipment and gas; providing needed medical supplies and equipment to health facilities; and continuing to implement its disease surveillance system to enable timely and effective humanitarian response to the epidemic.