iciHaiti - Health : Importance drop of cholera in 2017
According to the UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), from January to October 2017, Haiti recorded 11,916 suspected cases of cholera and 118 deaths, compared to 35,203 cases and 369 deaths for the same period in 2016 - a decrease of 66% and 68% respectively. This illustrates the continuation of the downward trend of cholera as a result of the efforts of coordination and response actors, the surveillance system, treatment and vaccination campaigns, especially in the Southern region.
However, there was a slight outbreak of Cholera in Artibonite department in October with 60.34% of cases for that month reported in the department. To control this outbreak, UNICEF continued to support 57 national teams, which provided quick responses to the suspected cases in partnership with the Rapid Response Teams (EMIRA) of MSPP. In the same vein, PAHO / WHO continued to support coordination and monitor CTDAs2 with departmental health authorities in the areas affected by outbreaks. Support was also given by the French Red Cross, one of the partners of PAHO / WHO, to strengthen response in treatment facilities. In October, 5 of such sites were supported in Artibonite and 3 in Centre department.
Considering the structural weaknesses of the health system, the decrease in funding for medical actors constitutes to be a significant risk factor for the persistence of the disease, or even an upsurge in the epidemic. This is in addition to the lack of funding for the community response teams, whose effects will be felt as early as February 2018 – with a massive and sudden reduction in the number of teams in the absence of new contributions.
