The cholera epidemic in Haiti has made at least 194,000 people sick and claimed the lives of almost 4,000 others. These statistics only reflect the victims that have reported their illness to medical personnel.
Unfortunately, information on cholera cases in Haiti’s rural villages is unknown and the number of lives affected by cholera could be far greater than what the international community is currently aware of.
Reports indicate that the number of new cholera cases has dropped to 4,000 per week as compared to 12,000 new cases per week in November 2010. Measures to care for cholera patients, such as delivering oral rehydration treatments, are preventing fatalities for Haitians. But, these short-term treatments are not a sustainable solution to the cholera epidemic.
Haiti’s rainy season is around the bed and proper infrastructure, including latrines and water treatment plans, have not been implemented to protect the country against another surge in cholera. The rainy season will send the bacteria through rivers and streams that could re-infect people who have already been treated for the disease.
The cholera epidemic has gripped Haitians in a culture of fear with regard to water. Wesley Laine, Program Manager of International Action (IA) told WaterWideWeb, “There’s a lot of fear when it comes to water in Haiti right now.” Laine was born in Haiti and just returned to the United States from a two week trip to Haiti.
Haitians are so afraid of cholera that they are drinking soda or going thirsty due to fear of the cholera bacteria in the water, explained Laine.
There is no shortage of well-intentioned organizations eager to deliver aid to communities suffering at the hands of cholera and other systemic inequities that are hindering progress in the country. But, delivering aid and supplies is not the same as implementing a long-term strategy to rebuild a country crippled by poor infrastructural development, amputees from the January 2010 earthquake, politically tense times, and the cholera epidemic.The country needs more than a shipment of water bottles, water packets, and chlorinator installments shipped in by aid groups. “Now, folks are fed up with NGOs. They want a sustainable solution instead of relying on foreign-aid groups that perpetuate dependency,” continued Laine. “Haitians are saying, ‘Don’t take our faucets. Fix our water’,” concluded Laine.
The American Red Cross launched response efforts to the cholera epidemic in Haiti since October 2010. Abi Weaver, Senior Communications Officer of the American Red Cross Delegation-Haiti told WaterWideWeb, “As of 12 January 2010, the American Red Cross has spent more than $4.5 million so far on the cholera response, and we plan to spend millions more.” Funds from the American Red Cross are spent on necessary supplies such as chlorine tablets, soap, and oral rehydration solutions.
Although aid organizations , such as IA and ARC are investing money, man power, and resources into a full throttle relief campaign, these efforts will have a relatively temporary impact on the overall condition of Haitians.
Unless the Haitian government takes action to provide a framework to make greatest use of these reactive, not proactive approaches, dollars spent in aid relief are essentially funneled into a permanent cycle of disaster relief. None of that money will be spent on a viable project that truly services the Haitian people, who are in limbo from two natural disasters. Rebuilding Haiti requires a strong governmental leadership to make headway into the future.
The only proactive approach to truly serving Haitians is constructing wastewater treatment facilities that are separate from facilities providing water for human consumption. Unless these projects are constructed in a timely manner, Haiti will remain a Republic of NGOs, a place where Haitians are constantly looking for a hand up but are always given a hand out.
The Direction Nationale de l’Eau Potable et de Assainissement (DINEPA) is the organization currently operating in Haiti to manage water related issues. After Haiti’s January 2010 earthquake, DINEPA worked on securing clean water resources for Haitians. Organizations, including IA, are collaborating with DINEPA in delivering clean water supplies to Haitians.
The cholera epidemic in Haiti temporarily subsided, but experts are not promising that the epidemic has been completely warded off. With cases in the rural villages of the south and other remote areas unaccounted for, the cholera epidemic could still be spreading at incalculable rates.
Immediate aid to disease outbreaks is important in times like the cholera epidemic in Haiti. However, these aid efforts need to be balanced with a plan for municipal water providers, international standard establishment, and a nationally controlled water plan that will remove Haiti from perpetual disaster response.
It is time for Haiti to be led out of the gripping culture of fear that leave citizens afraid to even take a sip of water. Organizations have endless well intentioned plans to help, but the road to unsustainable use and lack of infrastructural development is paved with good intentions. Now it is time for the government to take solid action that can be supported by both private and international actors. It’s time to truly help Haiti…sustainably.
The photo above was provided by International Action
If you enjoyed this article, you should also read:
Cholera in Haiti: Direct Aid Workers Speak
Water Diplomacy: The Water for the Poor Act
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