The cholera outbreak in Haiti’s West, Nippes, South, Southeast, and Northwest departments began in October 2022, with the national authorities confirming two cases of Vibrio cholera in the Port-au-Prince area. Community clusters of suspected cases and deaths were under investigation in several communes of the West department, including Cité Soleil and Port-au-Prince. Healthcare facilities in these areas reported an increase in severe acute diarrhea cases in both children and adults during the epidemiological week 39 of 2022.
The Haitian health system, weakened by various natural disasters and lack of state funds, does not have the capacity to fully respond to the cholera outbreak. The objective of the intervention is to limit the spread of cholera by reducing morbidity and mortality in the targeted departments. This is achieved by contributing to the prevention and management of suspected and confirmed cases, enhancing local and national capacities and skills, and increasing access to information and immediate care at the community and institutional levels.
The project primarily focuses on the health sector to combat the spread of cholera in Haiti. The response emphasizes care at the community and institutional levels and community awareness-raising with the support of community health workers, community leaders, and bidirectional awareness channels. The water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) sector is also crucial in the fight against cholera, and Doctors of the World provides support to vulnerable families with WASH kits containing hygiene supplies and raises awareness about basic hygiene rules and the use of products for water sanitation and purification.
The protection sector is of utmost importance in the current Haitian context, where the cholera epidemic coincides with a highly complex and volatile socio-political and security situation. The need for psychosocial support has been increasing, considering the violence, kidnappings, fuel shortages, and the traumatic memory of cholera. Mental health and psychosocial support have become more critical than ever for the population.
Initially, the project was a consortium of four chapters, but in June 2023, Doctors of the World Spain officially announced their withdrawal from Haiti. Despite this, the project’s objectives remained unchanged, and Doctors of the World Switzerland assumed responsibility for the planned activities in the Southeast department and Goavienne region. The organizational structure was adjusted to enable Doctors of the World Switzerland to continue providing support to all targeted healthcare facilities within the scope of the award, thus preserving the level of assistance to beneficiaries.