A Growing Crisis in Haiti, Focus Reports
Release Date: 2010-11-05
Not even eleven months after an earthquake measuring magnitude 7 on the Richter scale shattered the lives of three thousand Haitians, leaving close to one million homeless, a new humanitarian crisis is spreading through the water systems of the stricken country. Within the past few days there have been 292 deaths as a result of cholera and 4,147 recorded cases of infection.Following the 12th January disaster, the pharmaceutical industry mobilized to combat the problem with substantial aid donations from the top industry players such as Novartis, Amgen, Eli Lilly and Abott. As the current epidemic now draws ever closer to Port-au-Prince, the people of Haiti are again at the mercy of the international community and in clear need of a similar response from the leading pharmaceutical companies. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) stated: ‘the consequences of the epidemic reaching the cities – a very real prospect – would be devastating to all, including those still living in camps after the earthquake’.
Tensions resulting from the crisis are currently at boiling point as organizations such as Médecins Sans Frontières are bombarded by rocks from 300 demonstrators close to Saint Marco, fearful that cholera treatment centres (CTCs) situated near their homes will spread the disease. There is already animosity directed towards the Nepalese UN officers based in Mirebalais, thought to be the source of the outbreak. The WHO is preparing a worst case scenario report, where the outbreak hits Port-au-Prince, possibly spreading to the Dominican Republic and further afield to South America.
Aid is being coordinated by a mixture of international aid organizations, the UN stabilisation mission (MINUSTAH), the WHO and local government. Clearly, water sanitation is the priority with the OCHA supplying 10,000 boxes of water purification tablets and 1,200 kg of chlorine powder. However, this will only stem the flow of new cases. To deal with the existing health needs of the population, the Haiti Cholera Situation Report #5 declares that: ‘Among the needs are 69,000 tablets of doxicycline, 83,500 tablets of Co-trimoxazole... and 11,621 courses of Ringers’ lactate IV solution’. More could be required if the worst case scenario becomes a reality.
Thankfully, the pharmaceutical industry is again gearing up to face this new crisis. The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) members have been quick to respond with $35 million in medicines, cash and medical supplies going towards relief efforts. The global leader in generics, Teva, has contributed $7 million in antibiotics, pain meds and even anxiety and depression drugs to help alleviate the suffering of the Haitian population. The company’s own employees have showcased their generosity donating $100,000 to the Haitian cause.
Should the outbreak reach the scale feared then the generosity of these companies is not just the request of the Haitian population but the expectation of the global community.
| Type: | NORMAL |
| Company: | Focus Reports |
| Country: | Switzerland |