PIH’s Response to Cholera in Haiti

Last week, the United Nations acknowledged its role in the outbreak of cholera in Haiti, which began in October 2010. Since then, the epidemic has killed nearly 10,000 people; hundreds of thousands more have become seriously ill.

And it’s not over: There have been 26,000 reported cases of cholera in Haiti so far this year.

The U.N. plans to present its cholera response plan in two months, but people are dying now. Please help us fight this epidemic today. Your gift will help us care for cholera patients, support vaccinations, increase our water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) efforts, and improve infrastructure to provide safe drinking water for more people.

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PIH has worked alongside Haiti’s Ministry of Health from the beginning of the outbreak. We have treated more than 145,000 people for cholera and led a successful campaign to vaccinate 45,000 people in 2012, which reduced the number of cases among those vaccinated by 65 percent. We have also carried out comprehensive prevention campaigns.

Check out these articles to learn more:

“U.N. Finally Admits Blame in Haiti Cholera Outbreak”: an interview with Dr. Louise Ivers, a PIH senior health and policy advisor who has led cholera treatment, prevention, and control activities in Haiti since 2010. 

“Cholera Vaccine Succeeds in Haiti” covers the successful oral vaccine campaign Dr. Ivers and colleagues led to slow the spread of cholera in 2012, the details of which are published in The Lancet. 

“Safe Water, Access to Sanitation, Key to Kicking Cholera” looks at some of our efforts to prevent cholera.

“A Chance to Right a Wrong in Haiti”: a Feb. 2013 New York Times op-ed by Dr. Ivers on why the U.N. has a moral obligation to solve a problem it created.

“The Cholera Outbreak, Three Years Later” is a reflection from Dr. Charles Patrick Almazor, who treated some of the first cholera patients in 2010.