IOM is stepping up its response to Haiti's cholera epidemic by
focusing efforts on containing the spread of the disease in camps
for internally displaced people (IDPs), as well as in the region of
Gonaives where it is growing rapidly and at the border with the
Dominican Republic.

A USD 3 million grant by the Swedish International Development
Cooperation Agency (Sida) has enabled IOM to jump start its
response to cholera in conjunction with the Government of Haiti and
the United Nations community.

The cholera epidemic has taken hold in the capital
Port-au-Prince, where many of the country's 1.3 million IDPs live,
spread across 1,300 sites.

IOM is scaling up its prevention and treatment activities in the
city in an effort to prevent the disease from further expanding in
the camps.

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This week, Haitian health authorities declared the epidemic "a
national security problem." To date, cholera has claimed more than
643 deaths and 9,971 people have been hospitalized for
treatment.

The disease has now spread to all departments and efforts to
control it are being overwhelmed. Its spread was exacerbated by the
effects of Hurricane Tomas, which brought rain and flooding in its
wake. It left many rural and urban areas inundated and created
ideal conditions for the spread of the disease. 

A rapid and systematic response is now required to prevent a
wider outbreak of cholera and enhance response capacities at the
camp level and in vulnerable communities.

Although cholera is containable, treatable and preventable,
flood affected populations are particularly vulnerable.  The
capacity of national infrastructure and mechanisms could be
overstretched given how quickly it spreads in areas lacking
adequate clean water, proper sanitation and with limited primary
heath care facilities.

As part of the Government of Haiti's National Cholera Response
Plan, IOM was designated by the Ministry of Public Health and
Population (MSPP) as responsible for ensuring cholera response in
camps in conjunction with its Camp Coordination and Camp Management
(CCCM) functions.

IOM is conducting a range of activities aimed at preventing
further spread of the disease among vulnerable communities and
mitigating its impact on the already affected population, while
continuing to carry out its CCCM functions.

The Cholera Response includes supporting prevention measures
such as large-scale hygiene promotion, establishing first-line
monitoring for cholera and rapid treatment and referral, mapping of
Cholera Treatment Units (CTUs) to support the establishment of
second-line facilities that serve to isolate and treat moderate
cases, enhancing latrine sanitization efforts, and Water Testing
and Treatment, among others.

The humanitarian response is multi-sectoral (health, water and
sanitation, education, food, logistics, CCCM clusters and
communication partners), and involves governmental institutions
such as the Ministry of Public Health and Populations, the
Direction Nationale de l' Eau Potable et de l'Assainissement, the
Département de la Protection Civile (DPC), United Nations
agencies, non-governmental organizations, and the UN Stabilization
Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH).

Inter-cluster coordination mechanisms have been put in place in
the Artibonite Department to ensure not only a coordinated and
strong response at department level but also strong links between
the departmental and national levels.

These efforts come as IOM continues its response to the
earthquake of 12 January, the effects of which remain widespread
and severe.

For more information contact:

Dr. Patrick Duigan

IOM Haiti

Tel: +509 384 99115

E-mail: "mailto:pduigan@iom.int">pduigan@iom.int

Sunara Fernando

IOM Haiti

Tel: +509 3702 7860

E-mail: "mailto:sfernando@iom.int">sfernando@iom.int 

Leonard Doyle

IOM Haiti

Tel: +509 3702 5066 

E-mail: "mailto:ldoyle@iom.int">ldoyle@iom.int