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CDC: Haiti makes substantial progress since 2010 earthquake
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Haiti has made significant progress in rebuilding the national public health system, 5 years after the 2010 earthquake that left millions of Haitians in urgent need of medical care, according to the CDC.
The CDC, working with the Haitian government, has helped reconstruct the public health sector, establishing disease surveillance systems, enhancing laboratory capacity and developing capacity in clinical services, epidemiology and public health leadership.
“Particularly since the earthquake in 2010, CDC has made significant investment in the national laboratory and disease surveillance systems in Haiti,” David Lowrance, MD, MPH, director of CDC’s Haiti office, said in a press release. “These systems and capacities are vital to preventing, detecting and responding to public health threats before they become crises and to protecting the health of the Haitian people and the global community.”
Haiti now has more disease detectives to detect and respond to outbreaks; more than 250 water and sanitation technicians to improve drinking water; more vaccinated children; and new facilities for laboratory, epidemiology and research staff. Efforts by CDC and its partners have led to advances in eliminating malaria and lymphatic filariasis, access to tuberculosis treatment services and improved water and sanitation facilities. In addition, 87% of HIV-positive pregnant women receive treatment to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
Despite the significant progress, more work is necessary.
“There is a cohort of children who have been missed by the routine immunization program,” Lowrance said. “Outbreaks of epidemic diseases still occur, and progress has been slow and limited in restoring the physical health infrastructure.”
Existing HIV/AIDS programs allowed the CDC’s Haiti office to expand its mission after the earthquake to support reconstruction and rebuilding of the health system and to respond to the subsequent cholera epidemic. This has allowed the implementation of other activities to improve the country’s health system.
“Haiti has a lot to be proud of in the health sector, and we look forward to continuing this work and to helping sustain the gains Haiti has made over the last 5 years,” Lowrance said.