In the department of Grand'Anse cholera looks devastating. This vast area of 1.871 km2, has an extensive network of rivers that promotes the spread of cholera throughout the department.

According to the latest report from the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP), published on December 3 : 205 people were seen and hospitalized, given their condition, and 117 (57.1%) died (hospital and community) since the emergence of cholera in this department.

However, stresses the MSPP, these figures are based on incomplete data. Incomplete or not, the assessment of MSPP does not reflect reality. On November 30 the Ministry indicated 100 deaths while the direction of the department of health of Grand'Anse (Southwest) reported 160 deaths already. In date of December 3, 2010, the Ministry stated 117 dead while figures from the medical authorities of this department, spoke of at least 204 dead (35 in Chambellan, 10 in Pestel, 103 in Moron, 29 in Jérémie and 27 in Dame-Marie).

Dr. Angello Duvelson responsible of the direction of the health department of Grande Anse, acknowledges that the assessment is arguably more important "There are surely more, but we have not yet been able to reach other regions to check the data we receive". He deplores the high number of deaths "At the Grand'Anse we face to a cultural problem" People think the disease is supernatural, they do not follow the recommendations and prefer to go to healers" said the doctor who announced the launch of an awareness campaign so that people go to health centers, which in most cases, are very distant of the localities.

"We are currently installing rehydration units in the communal sections to reduce the number of deaths community" reported Dr. Duvelson Angello, who has appealed for international humanitarian organizations insufficiently present in this department.

The latest assessment of the MSPP (December 3, 2010), at the national level, reported since the beginning of the epidemic, 91.770 cholera affected persons, of which 43.243 were hospitalized for treatment and 2.071 deaths.

For memory, let us recall that in his last report to the General Assembly, Mr. Ban said that UN health teams, believes that the official figures of the Haitian government, "could be double that because of difficulties in reporting".

See also:

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-1808-haiti-social-lynchings-in-series-at-least-14-victims.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-1820-haiti-cholera-epidemic-650-000-cases-in-the-next-6-months.html


S/ HaitiLibre