Within a few days, more than 250 people died and more than 3.000 people were hospitalized due to the recent outbreak of cholera. Most cases are reported in the Artibonite region, where the cholera outbreak comes after recent heavy rains that caused the banks of the Artibonite River to overflow and flood the area.
Although the outbreak of cholera is separate from the earthquake response, the impact on those displaced by the quake could be huge. However, it is not just the impact on the camps of displaced people that is the main problem, as spokesperson of the Red Cross explains: “Tens of thousands crammed into camps is certainly a huge problem. However, the Red Cross and NGOs have been working in many of these camps for months, providing sanitation facilities and promoting hygiene. As a result, they have good water, toilets, and they are well organized.
“What is equally concerning is the situation in some of the non-affected slum areas where people live on top of each other with no safe drinking water, no toilets and no sewage system. If cholera hits these areas, it will be very hard to stop it.”
To prepare for this possibility, the Red Cross for instance is putting in place measures to ensure a rapid and effective response that includes setting up the first Red Cross cholera treatment centre in Port-au-Prince.
The Medical Export Group B.V. could react instantly and the first Cholera kits are being shipped to Haiti.
Next to cholera kits, containing medicines, IV catheters, gloves, feeding tubes, educational material, water purification tablets, chlorine tests and much more The Medical Export Group can also supply Oral Rehydration Salts, infusion fluids and all necessary medical items. Please contact our sales team at: info@meg.nl or give us a call at: +31 183 356 100.
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