Cholera - Haiti Observer Blog

Vaccines protect travelers from serious diseases. Depending on where you travel, you may come into contact with diseases that are rare in your country. It is recommended to get vaccinated at least 4 to 6 weeks before you travel. This will give the vaccines time to start working, so you're protected while you're traveling. Travelers can get typhoid through contaminated food or water in Haiti. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends typhoid vaccine for most travelers, especially if you are staying with friends or relatives, visiting smaller cities or rural areas, or if you are an adventurous eater.

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On August 19, 2016, the former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced a new approach by the United Nations to cholera in Haiti. In his statement, he indicated that the UN deeply regrets the terrible suffering the people of Haiti have endured as a result of the cholera epidemic and that the United Nations has a commitment and moral responsibility to the victims of the cholera epidemic and to support Haiti in overcoming the epidemic.

The United Nation's new approach is intended to intensify efforts to eliminate cholera from Haiti and assist and support those most directly affected. The approach consists two tracks.

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It's like dealing with Cholera which was a gift from MINUSTAH to the Haitian people was not enough. We also had recent outbreaks of Chikungunya, Dengue and our major health scare about Ebola. Still we now have something new to deal with, the Zika virus infection. As a result of recent warning by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) of cases of Zika virus infection in our region, the Minister of Public Health in Haiti has implemented early warning system to detect potential cases of the Zika infection in the Haitian population. Mosquitoes are considered to be the primary vectors of the virus. So far all specimens of mosquitoes, tested have turned out negative.

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In fact, if everything goes according to plan, The United Nations will be out of Haiti by October, 2016 or exactly one year from now. Sandra Honore who is currently in charge of the peacekeeping mission in Haiti was able to receive one year extinction from U.N. Security Council to keep the troop in order to assist wit the upcoming elections.

The one year this time is focused more on Police offices to train Haiti national Police force. This one yea renewal will involve 2,370 troops and 2,601 police officers. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon expects a total withdrawal by October of 2016.

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No Cholera Cases so far after Nepal 2015 Earthquake. Nepal has been devastated by a monumental earthquake, and conditions are such a cholera outbreak could happen. A death count of more than 7,000 people has been reported with another 14,000 or so injured.

The earthquake has set up a scenario precluding the start of a cholera epidemic. Migratory survivors of the quake, living in streets or a shelter, cause disorder in water and sanitation systems' normal operations. Once underway, cholera's symptomatic and incessant diarrhea pollutes the water supply, setting the stage for more people and communities to become infected.

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NY District Court hears Oral Arguments in Haiti Cholera Case. Ten victims of Haiti's cholera epidemic won the right to have their lawsuit heard in court during a hearing in a NY District Court in October. They have filed suit against the UN, alleging soldiers from Nepal, part of the UN peacekeeping mission, contaminated a tributary of the Artibonite River with cholera. The epidemic began ten months after 2010's earthquake. As a consequence of the contamination over 8,500 people have perished from cholera, with hundreds of thousands infected.

The UN has refused to take responsibility for the calamity and claims immunity from prosecution. Although the UN draws the line at providing a remedy to victims the lawsuit asserts it has harmed, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon believes "The whole international community, including the United Nations, has a moral duty" to stem the tide of cholera.

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One big setback for the lawyers seeking justice and compensations for the victims of cholera in Haiti. Federal judge in Manhattan, Judge J. Paul Oetken, has decided to go with the argument presented by the lawyers of the United Nations which is that the United Nations is immune from any lawsuit because of treaties.

Kreyol Pale, Kreyol Kompran

Nan bon Kreyol, sa vle di ke "Si ke mwin pi gro neg passe-ou, mwin deja gin raiso sou-ou"

Eske nou tout pa ta vle nan pozisyon UN? Mwin fè Lwa ki nan avantaj mwin, mwin antre lakay-ou, mwin fè kont dega, et pi mwin di ke mwin te signin yon papier ki di mwin pa responsab pou aucun dega

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Nearly four years ago after Haiti's devastating earthquake in January 2010, a cholera epidemic broke out ten months later, which has since taken more than 8,500 Haitians' lives, and afflicted another 700,000-plus. It was determined that Nepal troops sent by the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti were to blame for spreading the water-borne virus through feces-contaminated water, which filtered into communities' drinking water supplies.

The UN has denied responsibility, forcing the victims to file a class action lawsuit in New York's Southern District federal court, insisting on remuneration for the deaths, suffering, and cost of treatment. The UN's response has been to invoke diplomatic immunity. The U.S. has buttressed the UN's position with a filing, saying the UN "enjoys absolute immunity", presented to U.S. District Judge Oetken last March. The class action suit alleges the epidemic "resulted from the negligent, reckless, and tortious conduct of the Defendants . . . (who) have a legal obligation to provide redress"

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It has been reported that the United Nations is funding a project to vaccinate close to 200,000 people in Haiti against cholera epidemic. The campaign will be focused mainly in the departments of Antibonite, Centre and Arcahaie where most of the cholera cases have been detected in Haiti.

The vaccination campaign is divided into two phased. The first phase took place last August, with the second to begin in mid September.

Side effects of Anti-Cholera Vaccination:
There are many side effects reported for those who have received the Anti-Cholera Vaccination. Unwanted effects may include rare, difficulty in breathing or swallowing, hives, itching, reddening of skin, especially around ears, swelling of eyes, face, or inside of nose. You can also have the following side effects after the cholera vaccination: Fever, general feeling of discomfort or illness, headache, pain, redness, or swelling in the area of injection

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It can only happen in a few countries in the world and Haiti unfortunately is one of them. The U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon received hero's welcome in Haiti, despite causing over 8000 deaths, thousands orphans, widows and much more suffering among the Haitian population.

Due to his negligence, the cholera epidemic is now with the Haitian population and it will take a monumental effort to get ride of it. We can thank the U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for that.

There have been many survivors of the Cholera epidemic who are currently struggling; children without parents, fathers and mothers without children, husbands and a wives without partners. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon believes that he owes them nothing for their suffering.

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