The devastating earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, 2010, had a profound impact on the country’s health status. The earthquake, measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale, caused widespread destruction, particularly in the high-density capital city of Port-au-Prince, where thousands were killed or injured and rendered homeless. The Government of Haiti estimates that more than 200,000 people have been killed, with over 3 million in need of humanitarian relief, including health care, food assistance, and access to water and sanitation.
Haiti has some of the poorest health statistics in the Americas. Infant and maternal mortality rates are among the highest in the region, with 59.69 deaths per 1,000 live births and 670 deaths per 100,000 live births, respectively. More than half of the population is undernourished, and child malnutrition exceeds 18 percent. Haiti is also a malaria-endemic country, with an estimated 164,590 malaria cases and 741 malaria deaths in 2006. The HIV/AIDS epidemic in Haiti is the worst in the Caribbean, with an estimated 120,000 people living with HIV/AIDS and an adult prevalence rate of 2.2 percent.
The U.S. government has a long history of involvement in Haiti’s health sector, with various programs aimed at improving basic health care delivery and services. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) provides development assistance to the health sector through the Pwoje Djanm program, which has received $51.4 million from the U.S. government. The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) also provides funding for HIV/AIDS programs in Haiti, with a focus on expanding clinic and community-based resources, building community networks, and training health workers.
The U.S. government’s response to the earthquake was swift and comprehensive, with an estimated $687.9 million in humanitarian assistance contributed to date. Key activities have included coordinating relief efforts with the United Nations and the international community, providing medical relief, assessing urgent public health needs, and managing the Port-au-Prince airport. The U.S. Air Force has managed the airport, allowing 160 missions to fly to Haiti, providing approximately 2,500 U.S. military and relief personnel and more than 2,600 tons of relief supplies.