Increased access to health care in Gonaives, Haiti

17 September 2008

While flood waters in Gonaives have mostly receded, some parts of the devastated town remain inaccessible and many people have not had access to health care, clean water, and food for 15 days. A Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) team continues to support the Raboteau Health Centre in Gonaives, where more than 1,000 consultations have been carried out to date. The five-person team has treated 250 wounded people and carried out 20 minor and major surgical procedures at the centre. More and more people are now presenting with pathologies consistent with post-flood conditions, including diarrhoea, respiratory infections, and skin diseases.

To improve access to health care in Gonaives, MSF began operating mobile clinics on September 14 in shelters where families have sought refuge. However, it appears that twenty other health centres are still inaccessible due to impassable roads.

Yesterday, a team of three nurses and one doctor went to Gonaives University, where 102 families, with children, have stayed for 14 days without access to clean water and health care. They examined 36 people in two hours, most of them suffering from fever, diarrhoea, or respiratory infections. There is risk of disease propagating rapidly within the community, in an environment where people are gathered in close proximity to one another.

The MSF team in Gonaives now consists of 20 people, among them eight medical staff and nine logisticians. Additional staff members are arriving and 23 tons of cargo has just arrived from Brussels, including medical kits, water and sanitation materials, and medicines.

Plans are under way to strengthen mobile clinic teams to ensure the most affected are reached, and MSF is preparing to open a second level health centre that can offer more advanced surgery.

Increased water and sanitation activities
Over the last several days, MSF has installed five water distribution points in Gonaives. On 14 September 60,000 litres of water were supplied. Yesterday, the team opened four additional sites and was able to supply more the 100,000 litres of clean water. With two more distribution sites opening today, a total of 150,000 litres of water will be provided daily. Additional water and sanitation equipment is en route to Gonaives, which will help increase the total daily supply of water.

Further assessments to determine overall needs
In northern Haiti, which remains difficult to access because of flood damage, MSF teams have managed to carry out assessments and deliver drugs to dispensaries and health centres in Anse Rouge, Bombardopolis, Mole Saint Nicolas, Jean Rabel, and Tortue Island. Additional assessments will be carried out in Port de Paix, Chansolme, and Bassin Bleu and Hinche (central plateau).

In the Bas Artibonite area of central Haiti, assessments have been carried out in Saint Marc, Desdunes, Dessalines, L’Ester.  A visit is planned to Grandes Salines.

Existing MSF activities in Port-au-Prince are continuing. MSF provides medical and surgical care at La Trinité Trauma Centre, emergency obstetrical care in Jude Anne Hospital, and emergency health care services and essential health services through mobile clinics in the Martissant slum.

One family’s plight in storm ravaged Haiti
Ongoing Needs in Hurricane Damaged Haiti
Haiti: After third storm, food and water urgently needed for displaced
Haiti: MSF assisting Haitians and assessing needs after successive hurricanes