In Haiti, multiple difficulties to face the coronavirus crisis

Text by: Achim Lippold Follow

At this stage, 15 cases of contamination have been confirmed in Haiti, this March 31. But the foci multiply. The Minister of Health warns the population that "darker days await us". The medical profession for its part criticizes the slowness and inadequacy of the measures put in place by the authorities. RFI took stock with Gotson Pierre, editor-in-chief of the Alterpresse news site.

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According to Gotson Pierre, companies have started to reduce their activities. But " we are far from systematic confinement ," says the editor of Alterpresse . " People work day by day ."

Slow communication from the authorities

The latest figures date from this weekend, with a correction Monday, March 30: 15 people infected, cases " confirmed " in four departments. The authorities, explains Gotson Pierre, give only figures compared to the departments. A choice criticized by the medical sector according to which the municipalities concerned should be identified. This lack of information could cause additional anxiety, explains a specialist interviewed by Alterpresse. Better communication on the municipalities affected by the pandemic would make it possible to isolate the cases to try to contain the spread, according to Gotson Pierre.

The editor-in-chief recalls that so far only 105 people have been tested. This slowness in the management of the crisis is strongly criticized by the population who observe a different practice in the Dominican Republic. In the neighboring country, the government makes a daily update on the spread of the virus. The Dominican Republic had its first confirmed case in early March. To date, explains Gotson Pierre, the country has more than 40 deaths linked to the Coronavirus and more than 1,000 confirmed cases.

Very few facilities for testing in Haiti

For now, only the National Public Health Laboratory is carrying out tests. It is located in Port-au-Prince. This complicates the care for a person who lives far from the capital, knowing that it takes 24 hours to get the test result. This complicated system also explains the slow progression of confirmed cases, according to Gotson Pierre. Haitian biologist Matendrick Adolphe, who speaks in Alterpresse , also warns of tests not approved by the authorities. Unreliable testing would be a disaster, he warns. We do not know who is affected by the disease.

There is therefore a double challenge for the authorities: to keep control over the tests and make them accessible. According to the biologist, " the country will be very limited in the management of the Covid-19 pandemic ". According to him, Haiti will need the support of the international community. Several doctors contacted by Alterpresse suggest that the authorities retain "a certain national sovereignty in the management of the crisis "; the health system should be mobilized. But the problem, explains Gotson Pierre, is that health has never been a priority of government policy. Only 4% of the budget is devoted to this sector.

Chronicle of an announced catastrophe

In any case the Haitians, even if some " want to believe in a miracle " according to Gotson Pierre, expect a catastrophic situation in the weeks to come. " I am very worried, " says the editor, pointing out the flaws in the health care system, the overcrowding and the fact that people are used to living " day to day ". The government has announced plans to recruit health personnel to support people in isolation centers. These isolation centers will be established in different regions of the country, explains Gotson Pierre.

Another problem, according to him, is that in the West Department only 19 ambulances are operational. And the editor pointed out yet another problem, namely the patient care protocol. According to witnesses who tested positive, it was a real obstacle course that they had to go through for treatment, starting with the difficulty of calling an ambulance.

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