PAHO deploys experts to support Haiti during earthquake aftermath. 14 Aug 2021

https://www.paho.org/en/news/14-8-2021-paho-deploys-experts-support-haiti-during-earthquake-aftermath

• Previous
• Next

PAHO deploys experts to support Haiti during earthquake aftermath

14 Aug 2021

Port au Prince, August 14, 2021. A team of experts from the Pan American Health Organization’s (PAHO) office in Port au Prince has been deployed to evaluate damage and coordinate an appropriate health response following the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that shook Haiti on the morning of Saturday August 14.

Emergency medical teams and other supplies and equipment will be prepared to help meet the most urgent health needs of those affected by the 7.2 magnitude quake.

Latest reports from the Haiti Civil Protection Agency suggest that at least 227 people have been killed – a number which is expected to rise over the next few hours. There are also reports of significant damage to health infrastructure, particularly in the southwest of the island, including in towns such as Les Cayes.

Our hearts go out to the people of Haiti on this truly sad day,” said PAHO Director, Dr. Carissa F Etienne. “Our team of experts is on the ground and stands ready to assist in all aspects of health response,” she added.

The team from PAHO is supporting coordination of health response alongside Haiti’s Ministry of Health, UN agencies, and other partners in order to assess immediate needs and ensure that support is provided quickly and efficiently. PAHO is also preparing several Emergency Medical Teams (EMTs), as well as medical supplies and other strategic equipment that can be deployed if needed. EMTs are teams of health professionals that provide direct clinical care to people affected by emergencies and disasters.

PAHO/WHO has activated Incident Management Teams both at its Country Offices in Haiti and the Dominican Republic as well at its Headquarters in Washington, DC, USA.

Experts are now concerned that the situation may escalate due to the increased risk of wind and rainfall that may be brought by  tropical storm Grace, which is expected to reach the Hispaniola island on Sunday August 15.  

Contacts 

Daniel Epstein 
Nancy Nusser 
Sebastián Oliel
Ashley Baldwin 
Nadia Peimbert-Rappaport 

mediateam@paho.org 

Communities affected the most? Haiti, Cuba, South Africa, Vulnerable Communities of Color. July 2021

 

Jul 12, 2021

GHN News   Soldiers patrol during a protest following the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise. Port-au-Prince. July 08, 2021. Image: Richard Pierrin/Getty   Covid-19 and Countries in Turmoil Haiti: Doctors Dodging Bullets   Street violence and COVID-19 are surging amid growing concerns that reactions to President Jovenel Moïse’s assassination last week may disrupt delivery of medical supplies, reports The Washington Post. Patients are afraid to travel to the hospital; and “dodging bullets has become routine” for health workers People displaced by the gunfire are filling crowded shelters heightening transmission risk.  Worse news: Haiti hasn’t vaccinated a single person, Rashmee Roshan Lall writes in an openDemocracy commentary. South Africa Protests   Several people have been killed in protests over the jailing of former President Jacob Zuma, the BBC reports, and police arrested dozens people over the weekend for public violence and violation of COVID-19 lockdown regulations, Al Jazeera reports. President Cyril Ramaphosa warned yesterday that  COVID-19 infections “remain extremely high” and pledged to keep restrictions in place through July. (Medical Xpress). Emergency rooms have been overwhelmed by an “onslaught of patients” in the country’s third wave, described in a CNN video. ‘Worst Days’ for Cuba   Cubans are taking to Havana’s streets to protest economic conditions and the slow roll-out of COVID-19 vaccinations, ABC Australia reports. COVID-19 cases hit a record 6,422 on Friday for the island—nearly 2X the number of just a few days earlier, according to the Miami Herald. Hope: Cuba’s 3-shot homegrown Abdala vaccine received local regulatory approval on Friday for emergency use. Related:   Big step towards vaccine security for South Africa while country remains on Level 4 lockdown – Daily Maverick   COVID: Cuba approves emergency use of own Abdala vaccine – Deutsche Welle