Patient Report: We have now seen approximately 150 cholera patients, and currently have 18 in the ward. We reached a peak of patients early this week, with up to 40 or 45 patients in the ward at one time (note that the graph shows date of admission through Thursday, and does not include patients currently in the ward; click on the image for better resolution). The atmosphere at the clinic is significantly calmer than earlier this week, but it is highly likely that we will see a rise in patient numbers again. The biggest problem continues to be that people in remote areas are not drinking ORS before and during their journey to the clinic. For example, one pastor reported that 14 people died over the last few days in his community, several of them on the way to the hospital. We are working with local pastors and other groups to spread the homemade ORS recipe and educational messages far and wide. Theoretically, there is already a government-run health center in the hardest-hit area (Bokbanik), but the information we are hearing about deaths suggests that it is not functioning. World Vision may have a tent coming that could be used to open a treatment center there, but the problem would be staffing such a center.
Community Activities: The Thomassique Cholera Committee is becoming stronger every day, and we are increasingly impressed and inspired by the level of community involvement. On Thursday, the committee selected Thomassique's Sanitation Commissioner as its President, and a local pastor as its Vice President. The committee has been organized into sub-categories including water, education, and churches, with each sub-category having an appointed leader directing larger numbers of participants. On Friday, the committee went to the local market as a group, spreading messages about cholera prevention and treatment, and inspecting the hygiene conditions of food vendors. Today, we attended a meeting with the Magistrate and 12 pastors that represent a wide geographic area (pictured above). The pastors were equipped with messages to convey to church-goers each weekend, and stacks of ORS recipes to distribute. They also discussed other issues surrounding cholera, such as how to dispel doubts and rumors circulating about the disease.
Supplies: We received 4000 packets of ORS and 1500 liters of Ringer's Lactate IV fluid on Friday, thanks to the help of Fr. O'Hare and Tom Brock, two wonderful contacts we have right across the Dominican border. Thank you to everyone who has donated to the clinic, we appreciate your support and are dedicated to maintaining an adequate stock of supplies at all times. We have designated a room in the clinic as the 'Cholera Depot' and it now contains all of the supplies needed for treatment, employee protection and cleaning. We have also been receiving materials from other local organizations, such as the Red Cross and World Vision; in turn, World Vision has been distributing our soap and hygiene packs during their education sessions.Election Tomorrow: An added level of anxiety, on top of the cholera epidemic, stems from tomorrow's election. Today, swarms of people crowded around the mayor's office registering to vote; tomorrow they will choose from the 18 candidates vying for President. Historically, Haitian elections have been marked with fraud and violence, so we are all hoping that the selection of a new President can lead to renewed stability rather than unrest.
If you would like to donate or volunteer for Medical Missionaries to help with the cholera crisis, please contact Medical Missionaries Vice President Dr. Kenneth Kornetsky at kkornetsky@msn.com or visit http://www.medmissionaries.org.
