Haiti: How MSF is responding to a resurgence of cholera in Pétion-Ville
MSF teams are treating patients, supporting prevention efforts to reduce the spread of cholera.
In densely populated areas of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, cholera can spread rapidly. Multiple factors contribute to this spread: people living in close quarters, displacement due to violence by armed groups, the inadequacy of water and sanitation infrastructure.
In response to an increase in cholera cases in October, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) opened a treatment centre in the Bristout neighbourhood of Pétion-Ville, Port-au-Prince. This site, which has a five-bed capacity, operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We provide free care to people who have cholera symptoms such as diarrhea. Treatment can include oral rehydration and continuous medical monitoring to ensure the rapid treatment of severe cases.
Since its opening on Oct. 18, 24 patients have been admitted and treated.
“Cholera has become a chronic risk in Port-au-Prince and any increase in cases requires an immediate response in order to prevent a larger outbreak,” says Nicholas Tessier, country director in Haiti. “We have been able to respond to an urgent need in Bristout but we remain vigilant, as the risk is still high and will continue long after the end of the rainy season.”
In addition to medical care, MSF implemented community activities to limit the spread of the disease. Our teams have carried out awareness sessions with residents. We’ve also chlorinated water points and ensured the cleaning and disinfection of high-risk areas.
Our teams treated 221,356 litres of water, enough to supply an average of 200 people per day. More than 8,496 residents of Pétion-Ville have also been informed about good hygiene practices, such as regular hand-washing and drinking treated or boiled water.
As highlighted in a press release by Human Rights Watch on Nov. 5, it is imperative that the Ministry of Public Health and Population/Western Health Directorate, with the support of their partners, give priority to its community prevention activities. These include chlorination of water sources, public awareness campaigns and epidemiological surveillance. Activities will have to continue until the end of the rainy season and even beyond, as long as a risk of disease spread will remain.
