Providing supplies at hospitals, providing water in communities

	Purified water provided by our partners at Operation Blessing. Photo courtesy of David Darg, Operation Blessing International.

As of Monday night, a total of 4,519 cholera patients have been hospitalized throughout Haiti’s Lower Artibonite and Central Plateau regions, and 292 reported deaths.

Most of the hospitalizations and deaths have been concentrated in the Lower Artibonite where PIH operates three hospitals in partnership with Haiti's Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP).

PIH’s procurement team has been working around the clock to supply these facilities with what they need to treat the hundreds of patients streaming in each day. PIH Procurement Manager Jon Lascher reported that PIH is also providing supplies to eight additional community centers surrounding St Marc. The supply situation at PIH’s hospital in St Marc is currently stable, he added.

PIH’s efficiency at procuring supplies is aided by over two decades experience on the ground in Haiti, as well as protocol and infrastructure established following the January 12 earthquake.  “Compared to the earthquake the diversity of products [needed] is much smaller, but the quantity of products needed is staggering,” Lascher said.

Access to both medical facilities and clean water continues to be a major challenge to treating and controlling the cholera outbreak. In remote areas, oral rehydration posts are being set up to supply patients with clean water and oral rehydration. For patients with more serious cases, who may be unable to be treated orally, stabilization posts are also being established. These posts will be staffed with a nurse who will be able to administer IV fluids.

Over the past few days, 42 water trucks, each holding 1,200 gallons of potable water, have reached 15 communities in the region most affected by the outbreak, thanks to our partners at the nonprofit Yele Haiti. Permanent water filters have been installed at three communities, in partnership with Operation Blessing.

Although the outbreak has so far remained concentrated in the Lower Artibonite, PIH medical facilities in the Central Plateau have also reported cholera cases. The public medical facility operated by PIH in Lacolline has seen 90 cholera cases since the epidemic began, and currently has only 15 cholera in-patients. Many of those infected were inmates at the prison in Mirebalais. However, situation has improved dramatically, reported PIH Deputy Chief of Mission for Haiti David Walton. There have been no patients admitted from the prison in the last 48 hours. Prisoners have potable water, their cells have been cleaned, and infection control has been instituted, he added.