Haitians and Haiti are facing new miseries. The weeks old cholera
outbreak epidemic is exposing Haitians to new risks as cholera spreads
in Port Au Prince, and its environs, the epicenter of the January 2010
earthquake which killed more than 230,000 persons and rendered over two
million person homeless.
The United Nations now estimates that over 200,000 could be infected
and thousands killed, and that cholera could spread to the Dominican
Republic, a neighbor nation of Haiti
The outbreak of cholera, dysentery, communicable diseases of epidemic
or even pandemic proportions were all too predictable and even expected
in the aftermath of the earthquake catastrophe. The outbreak of the
current cholera epidemic is harbinger of even worse miseries which are
most probable.
The spread of cholera and other diseases, are no surprises, given the
present conditions in various encampments in Haiti. It is now being
projected that the current cholera will kill thousands, even though
cholera was officially eliminated from Haiti almost 100 years ago
Filth ,vile, polluted water are flowing into rivers, and river water
remains the source of water for domestic uses for more than 60%
Haitians. Two million Haitians displaced and dislocated by the January
earthquake have been living in tents camps in Port Au Prince its
environ. All types wastes, human feces, and garbage generated from these
overcrowded camps have produced admixtures of extremely unpleasant
health consequences.
The dire conditions of these two million Haitians displaced, dislocated
and made homeless by the cataclysmic earthquake is now made worse by
the rainstorms which has engineered a flow and mixture of sludge
generated by multitudes of Haitians confined to limited landmass without
social amenities or facilities. Poor public infrastructures, the
absence of a sewer system have been exacerbated by the earthquake.
Cholera outbreak in Haiti foreseen, predicted; These were all too
probable, most probable!
Haiti My Love; We Are All Haitians Now; Haiti Cheri, Mon Amour, Je
t'aime/news/public/article.php?ArticleID=1528 published in January 2010
Even for persons not in the medical field or trained in medicine
anticipated these epidemics of cholera and other diseases. We registered
our concerns regarding the looming or impending health hazards in
congested camps without pubic infrastructures, facilities or amenities.
Please see our article written a couple of days after the earthquake in
January 2010 titled Haiti My Love; We Are All Haitians Now; Haiti Cheri,
Mon Amour, Je t'aime
There are concerns that there could be outbreaks of cholera, diarrhea
and other diseases which might result from the now festering poor
sanitary conditions and the scarcity of clean water, electricity, as
well as exposed broken sewers. All these present logistical nightmares
for search and rescue personnel, local and foreign, requiring dynamic
modalities. And again, building local capacities is crucial, in view of
long term considerations
Only last month, on October 13th, I wrote another article Haiti, 2
Million Persons Still Homeless 10 Months After Earthquake!
/2010/10/13/haiti-2-million-persons-still-homeless-10-months-after-earthquake/
I wrote the following, expressing fears of probable cholera outbreak
which has now come to pass, unfortunately! But it is was always
foreseeable.
There is still no water, no electricity available to all regularly and
on steady, or reliable basis, there are continuing concerns for disease
outbreaks of epidemic proportions, such as cholera and other diseases
which are exacerbated by unsanitary conditions. The congested tents
camps environment in which Haitians displaced by the earthquake now
live, is said to be suffused and reek with raw sewage and rain water
flowing in the camp being a common sight
It is really sad that 2 million Haitian are still homeless more than 10
months after earthquake which killed 230,000 people. It is so
disconcerting that our microwave culture with short attention span, have
forgotten or at least, have allowed the plights and predicaments of
Haitians, victims of the worst earthquake, are abandoned and their
abject conditions have receded to the back burner and recesses of our
consciousness.
We spend two trillion dollars tangling with real and imagined enemies
in Afghanistan and Iraq, and yet, we do not have the will and courage to
provide basic human needs to the two million persons still homeless in
the aftermath of the disastrous earthquake in Haiti?
It will be recalled that in the aftermath of the cataclysmic earthquake
in January, there were almost a sense of eagerness by and between
nations to openly compete and be seen as the largest donor and the best
helper of the hapless people and nation of Haiti, but, almost a year has
passed and only three nations, namely, Sweden, Norway and Brazil, have
followed through and keep their promised and delivered on the monies
pledged to Haiti relief and reconstruction efforts.
More than ten months after of the January 12, 2010 earthquake and 2
million Haitians still live on the streets in full public view, subject
to the elements, heat, the rains, mudslides and hurricanes.
2 million Haitians are still subject to disease outbreaks such as
cholera, dysentery and diseases from poor living conditions, poor
sanitation and impure drinking source.
During the blitzkrieg in the aftermath of the earthquake in January,
more than sixty nations promised money and material aid in excess of
five billion dollars, but, six more later, only Brazil, Norway and
Sweden has fulfilled and redeemed their pledges; but why is this the
case?
But where are the nations who made loud promises and thereby deceived
all of us, while giving Haitians false hope, and now, disappointment?
Cholera was eliminated in Haiti decades before the earthquake on
January 12, 2010. In the aftermath of that catastrophic earthquake
however, many persons, expert and average persons, expressed the fear
that unsanitary conditions in the camps or shelters where displaced and
dislocated victims of the earthquake lived would soon cause epidemics,
communicable diseases.
It has come to pass as predicted and predictably so, that there is now a
cholera epidemic from outskirts of Port Au Prince and from the Haitian
countryside, killing over 500 people and sickening almost 200,000
persons who may now be infected and would be hospitalized. There is now a
growing concern that a cholera epidemic will infiltrate the estimated
two million Haitian earthquake victims who are still in flimsy shelter
in various camps in Port Au Prince, still displaced and dislocated 10
months after that cataclysmic earthquake
The United Nations is currently investigating the origin and source of
the cholera outbreak in Haiti. Accusing fingers are currently being
directed at UN Peacekeeping forces said to have had exposed septic
system in close proximity to River Meille near the city of Mirebalais
the epicenter and origin of the cholera outbreak which is now spreading
north and to major cities, camp shelters, where it could wreak havoc in
view of the population density and scarcity of clean water.
Where is the international community? And where is God? As expected
there is cholera outbreak epidemic in Haiti and as equally expected, the
epidemic is spreading Where is the so-called international community
and goodwill? Where indeed is everybody? The UN says 200,000 could be
infected and thousands killed, and cholera could spread to the Dominican
republican neighbor nation of Haiti
Cholera in Nigeria, in Pakistan, and now, in the beleaguered nation of
Haiti. Cholera is a tad too simple to prevent through the provision of
clean water and good sanitation, sanitary systems. And the antidote to
cholera is similarly simple to manage where the resources are available,
such as salt and sugar solutions used in Oral Re-hydration Therapy or
ORT to prevent dehydration or in worst cases, antibiotic treatment
therapies are employed to address acute cases, and yet, in all the cited
cases in Nigeria, Pakistan and Haiti this years, thousands are already
dead! In a world of plenty and so much abundance?
Haiti, 2 Million Persons Still Homeless 10 Months After Earthquake.