CECI - Centre for International Studies and Cooperation

Published purpose

17 March 2011 - As of 1 March 2011, the cholera epidemic in Haiti has killed 4,672 people with 252,640 cases, of which 136,275 had to be hospitalized (according to official Ministry of Public Health and Population figures). There are also many cases and deaths in the community that go unreported as these individuals are unable to access medical services on time. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) estimates that Haiti will have approximately 400,000 cases of cholera over the course of the first year of the epidemic. The Lancet medical journal recently published a study finding that the number of cases of cholera could reach 800,000. With support from CIDA, the Centre for International Studies and Cooperation (CECI) addresses critical needs in water, sanitation and hygiene in severely-affected and underserved communities in the Nord-Est, Artibonite and Nord departments of Haiti, in order to reduce the infection rate and prevent further spread of cholera. Activities include hygiene promotion campaigns, distribution of hygiene and sanitation materials to community cholera treatment facilities and schools, latrine construction, and provision of drinking water through distribution of chlorine tablets and rehabilitation of water points. Also, CECI trains community health workers and provides technical assistance to community health structures responding to the cholera epidemic on treatment and biomedical waste management.