Haiti – Emergency Health Water Sanitation and Hygiene Assistance in Cité Soleil – Oxfam-Qc 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 Oxfam-Québec is improving access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities and protection for over 8 200 internally displaced and relocated people in Cité Soleil. Project activities include: (1) constructing and rehabilitating water kiosks and supply networks latrines and hand washing stations; (2) implementing a solid waste disposal system; (3) training and deploying community health officers; (4) supporting a vaccination campaign for children under five; and (5) providing education sessions on maternal and child health and transmission of waterborne diseases.

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