Haiti - Emergency Health Intervention - Pan American Health Organization 2015

March 2015 – Haiti has made significant progress in recovering from the devastating earthquake of January 2010. However critical needs and acute vulnerabilities remain for an estimated 3 million of Haiti’s 10 million people. An estimated 2.6 million individuals are food insecure of which 200 000 people are severely food insecure. Cholera remains an ongoing concern. Although the incidence of cholera has decreased it remains one of the largest epidemics in the world. Life-saving activities remain necessary to control the transmission of the disease and ensure that adequate care is provided to the most vulnerable of the affected population. Haiti also ranks as one of the countries with the highest exposure to natural disasters with an estimated 60% of the population vulnerable to natural hazards. With DFATD’s support and other donors PAHO is increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of the prevention and treatment of cholera in Haiti. Project activities include: (1) strengthening clinical management and rapid response to waterborne diseases in health facilities; (2) improving access to safe water sanitation and hygiene in health centres and communities; (3) improving the response capacity of health authorities; and (4) improving knowledge of good hygiene practices at the community level.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) improved response to waterborne diseases; (2) increased access to safe water sanitation and hygiene in health centres; (3) improved knowledge of hygiene practices; and (4) reduced incidence of cholera. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crises or acute food insecurity.