2011-01-04
AMDA Emergency Bulletin #4: Cholera Outbreak in Haiti

From 7th to 24th Dec. 2010, AMDA's relief team saw 108 cholera patients including eight casualtiesat at the Salvation Army Hospital in Fonds des Negres (120 km west of Port-Au-Prince).

The number of inpatients was well over the hospital's bed capacity where 26 patients were admitted in a 15-bed facility. At the Salvation Army Hospital, isolation rooms were allocated for cholera ward, however, the ward carried a high risk as it was close to other wards and the kitchen entrance. More over, people ceaselessly came in and out of the ward as it was the families of the patients that mostly took care of them. Yet, there was no hand-wash station, not even the disinfectant solution to be used.

Due to the withdrawal of AMDA's first team on 20th Dec., the second team comprising one coordinator from AMDA HQ and one midwife from AMDA Canada took over the activities from 17th Dec.

The time had been difficult after the second team took over the activities; many of the staff at the hospital went on Christmas vacation which caused the lack of manpower and this eventually led the remaining nurses and AMDA staff to treat the cholera patients.

The hospital's operation was normalized on 25th Dec. and the doctors and nurses came back to work again. AMDA team handed over its work to the hospital and has withdrawn from the Salvation Army Hospital. Meanwhile, AMDA will continue its information gathering and keep an eye on the cholera situation.

Click here for comprehensive report on AMDA's activities in Haiti (PDF).

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