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 Washington D.C., 12 January 2011 (PAHO) — In
the face of unprecedented health challenges during 2010, Haiti’s health
workers were “heroes” whose untiring efforts saved lives and reduced
the suffering of thousands of injured and ill, said Dr. Mirta Roses,
Director of the Pan American Health Organization/World Health
Organization (PAHO/WHO), in remarks today, one year after the Jan. 12,
2010, earthquake.
“Health workers, including
the authorities at all levels, were personally affected by the disaster,
including some 300 who died during the quake,” Dr. Roses recalled.
“Other health workers lost family members and friends and saw their
homes and workplaces destroyed or damaged. In spite of these challenges,
Haiti’s doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians and other health
workers, including staff of the Pan American Health Organization, were
in the forefront of rescue efforts. In the aftermath of the earthquake
they carried on, often working for days on end without sleep, and for
weeks on end without a break.”
These
health workers “are an inspiration,” said Dr. Roses, and “the source of
hope for the future strengthening of a public health system in Haiti
that will make ‘health for all’ a reality for the Haitian people.”
Haiti’s
2010 earthquake claimed more than 200,000 lives, injured many thousands
more, and devastated the country’s transportation, housing, water, and
sanitation infrastructure.
In
the health sector, casualties of the quake included the headquarters
building of the Ministry of Health, over 200 ministry staff working
there, and 30 hospitals that were destroyed or seriously damaged in the
three regions most affected by the quake.
Ten
months later, an outbreak of cholera in the country’s north spread
quickly to all 10 departments of Haiti. The most recent reports indicate
a cumulative 181,829 cholera cases nationwide and 3,759 deaths since
October 2010.
International
agencies and nongovernmental organizations have provided invaluable
support for Haiti’s response to both the earthquake and the cholera
epidemic. But it is Haiti’s own health workers, said Dr. Roses, who have
been in the forefront providing medical care for earthquake and cholera
victims as well as educating the public about prevention and the need
for early treatment of cholera symptoms.
“They
have led the fight against cholera as well as efforts to reduce
maternal and infant mortality, prevent HIV, and address other ordinary
daily health needs,” Dr. Roses noted.
Officials
of Haiti’s Ministry of Health have provided crucial leadership, despite
the destruction of their headquarters and the loss of key personnel.
After the earthquake, health officials developed and began implementing a
strategy to rebuild the country’s health system, including rebuilding
30 hospitals in the three departments most heavily affected by the
earthquake as well as guaranteeing free health care to the country’s
most vulnerable groups.
Since
the start of the cholera epidemic, and despite a lack of experience
with the disease, Haiti’s health officials, healthcare providers, and
community health workers—with support from U.N. agencies and
international nongovernmental organizations—have gradually improved case
management and reduced the case fatality rate from a high of 9 percent
to an average 2.1 percent nationwide.
In
both the aftermath of the earthquake and the ongoing cholera epidemic, a
key challenge has been coordinating the more than 400 organizations and
agencies participating in the health response to both emergencies.
PAHO/WHO has worked closely with the Ministry of Health to coordinate
these partners and to ensure the effective and efficient deployment of
staff and supplies.
In
addition to addressing the acute healthcare needs created by earthquake
and the cholera epidemic, the Ministry of Health and its partners in
the Health Cluster have managed to restart programs for outbreak control
and environmental health, immunization, maternal and neonatal health,
nutrition, gender-based violence, HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, dengue,
mental health, and rehabilitation services for disabled people.
In
addition to Dr. Roses’ remarks, PAHO also marked the first year after
the 2010 Haiti earthquake with a candlelight remembrance and a minute of
silence. In Haiti, commemorative events have included a mass at the
ground of the Port-au-Prince cathedral and other memorial services, an
opening of the National Archives’ Register of Deceased and Missing
Persons from Jan. 12, 2010, special radio and TV programs, and a soccer
game between two teams of amputees. In addition, the
United Nations’ mission in Haiti is unveiling a monument in honor of the
96 U.N. staff who perished in the quake.
LINKS:
ONE year ONE team 4Haiti - 12 January 2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7241q3gfaLA
Mensaje de la Directora, OPS/OMS – Dra. Mirta Roses, español
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=audMT3wYrSE
Message of the Director, PAHO/WHO – Dr. Mirta Roses, English
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOgC9xIEK-0
Message de la Directrice, OPS/OMS – Dr. Mirta Roses, en français
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhyIXeLVEWo CONTACTS: Donna Eberwine-Villagran, email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
, tel. +1 202 974 3122, Media, Knowledge Management and Communication Area, PAHO/WHO – http://www.paho.org/
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