Overview:
Community health workers atCare 2 Communities in Cap-Haitien are assisting local communes to curb the transmission of cholera in Haiti.
By Rupal Ramesh Shah, M.S., M.P.H.
Special Contributor
Over the years, Haiti’s healthcare system has improved in terms of better life expectancy. However, Haiti still faces significant health challenges, including cholera, a still pervasive epidemic on the rise. However in Cap-Haitien, the community workers at Care 2 Communities (C2C), a non-profit organization, have been working diligently with local residents to curb transmission rates.
The encouraging results from their efforts prove, once again, that core infrastructure is essential in order for public health systems to function robustly. That infrastructure can come in the form of a trained and competent workforce, strong information systems, quality improvement and research, and technology.
To briefly recap, the first cholera outbreak in Haiti erupted 10 months after the calamitous 2010 earthquake and itself claimed 10,000 lives. In early 2022, the country proudly reported that it had eliminated cholera as there were no confirmed cases for three consecutive years. However, in October 2022, the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP) reported new cases of cholera in Port-au-Prince. Later on, MSPP said more than 10,000 cholera cases had resulted in 300 deaths by that year’s end.
The MSPP has since been addressing the needs of the people as they face a resurgence of cholera. Likewise, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) is collaborating with local groups such as C2C in Cap-Haitien to provide infection control support. Since January 2023, the city has mobilized community health workers to control the spread of the disease, as part of its mission to deliver reliable, affordable and high-quality primary care.
In the northern city, cholera infections have infiltrated the communes of Trou-du-Nord, Bas-Limbe and Savanette, among others. C2C has been actively educating the community on infection prevention methods, which include proper sanitation and constant handwashing.
Earlier in the year, Trou-du-Nord community leaders reached out to C2C to request basic supplies for infection control. C2C also provided training to members of the community on the adequate disposal of human waste and appropriate handling of fruits and vegetables before consumption.
According to Dr. Inobert Pierre, chief program officer at C2C, people with cholera develop dehydration that can lead to kidney failure if untreated. Therefore, C2C has been distributing water purification tablets and oral rehydration salts. In Bas-Limbe and Savanette, C2C distributed supplies to treat cholera symptoms.
Racha Yehia, C2C’s managing director, said as a result, cholera symptoms in those communities have decreased, from an average of five to two per week.
As the holiday season arrives and families have more gatherings, C2C will continue outreach efforts to provide information on proper sanitation and handwashing. The hope is to, once again, eliminate the spread of cholera and restore the health of the people.
Rupal Ramesh Shah is a Tanzanian-Indian-American who worked and lived in Haiti (Mirebalais and Fond-des-Blancs) for almost two years. She has a background in microbiology and public health, and currently serves as a Board member for Care 2 Communities. She can be reached at RupalRShah@aol.com.