After a pandemic of cholera

Since the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, the country reached epidemic proportions of cholera in many areas. The Government of Haiti announced that from October 2010 to January 2014, the numbers of cholera patients were 698,304.

According to a survey from 2013, there were 58,505 cholera patients that year, which was a decrease from 100,000 in 2012. In 2014, the number was reduced to half: 26,000. If you look at the numbers, there appears to have been a big reduction in cholera cases and eradication of the disease seems to be successful.

However, from January to August 2015, the numbers increased to 21,666 which was a 147% increase. According to these data, it seems that there are limits to the attempts of a number of organizations to control cholera outbreaks.

Cholera is transmitted by polluted water and food, and through feces and vomit of infected patients. In Haiti, people living in poverty do not have sufficient access to safe water, sanitation and public health centers. This reality is connected to the situation where cholera infections do not stop.

Finance shortage is another reason. The finances required for the activities, preventing cholera pandemic, proposed by the UN have only reached 46% of their goal from 2014 to 2015. If the fundraising is not successful, there is no possibility to construct infrastructure to provide safe water.

If these problems are not solved, there will be no way to conquer cholera.

JEN will continue to provide support to allow the majority access to safe water.

【 The river of the central area of the capital, where garbage is dumped】