The Agronomist Arcene Bastien, departmental director of the Ministry of Environment of South-East, heading a delegation composed of representatives of the Ministry Health, the representative of the Executive of the City Council and the Regional Police went on the road of Amitié de Jacmel, Wednesday morning October 27th within the framework of the official launch of a "Monitoring campaign" aiming at protecting the population from South-east against the cholera epidemic.

An operation of inspection and disinfection has been launched across the South-East department. Health authorities have carried out disinfection of vehicle tires and questioned passengers about their provenance. Health staff will be established on the road Lamitier at the entrance of the city of Jacmel, to accompany any infected person. This should last one month.

The Agronomist Arcene Bastien, Departmental Director of Environment stated that "interim measures are taken at departmental level to prohibit products from areas affected by cholera, including the Artibonite, enter the department." All means will be used to ensure that such measures are respected. These controls remain in force for at least the next 15 days.

Ramilus Bolivar departmental Delegate has sought the help and understanding of population for the implementation and enforcement of all preventive guidelines established by health authorities.

During a visit by Haitilibre in some camps in the city of Jacmel, the victims have expressed their concern about this disease. "9 months after the earthquake we are still left to ourselves and our living conditions are unchanged, we are located in tents torn under a blazing sun" said Calixte Rubens, a claimant of camp Pinchinat. "Only God can save us from cholera" said a lady, mother of 4 children. Some homeless people interviewed in a camp in the town of Fond Alexis II, said they were very concerned about this epidemic. "The health authorities have asked us to drink treated water, our economic resources do not allow us" they said.

The cholera epidemic which has claimed the lives of hundreds of our compatriots in the Artibonite Department and the Central Plateau, has plunged the people of Jacmel in fear.

HL/ Claudy Bélizaire