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In Haiti, public water systems do not exist and clean water is often inaccessible to the poor. Haitians who want clean water will have to purchase water purification tablets which can pose a challenge for buying other items such as food, medicine and other necessities. Often times, Haitians will choose to not buy the purification tablets and drink the same water that they use to bathe, grow their crops, and even use as a toilet. Access to potable water has decreased in Haiti over the last 25 years and 81% of Haitians living in rural areas do not have access to basic sanitation. Cholera, a disease that hit Haiti in 2010 after the earthquake, is a deadly bacterial disease that spreads through dirty water. that In 2014, Haiti had the most registered cases of cholera per population in the world. And in 2015, the trends have tripled. Cholera is preventable, and treatable but many Haitians do not have the resources against this disease. After a mere five years, 9,041 deaths have been registered and over 750,000 have contracted the disease. The registered deaths do not even account for the Haitians who remained in their homes and died without record. Thousands of Haitians that live in impoverished areas are suffering from this disease, one that can be easily cured in a developed country like the U.S. Cases of cholera have been much more prevalent in the poverty stricken population than the small richer population, since poorer communities or rural villages don’t have access or cannot afford clean water. Despite the flows of donated money to aid with the epidemic, cases are still increasing due to the root problem never being solved -- the unsanitary conditions.
One solution for this issue has been donations given for vaccinations. However, even with the millions of dollars flowing in from companies such as the United States Agency for International Development or the World Health Organization, many hospitals still do not have enough supplies for the influx of patients that they are receiving. Also, just vaccinations will not fix the problem. As more victims are being cured, more are also contracting the disease from drinking the dirty water that remains unfixed in their waterways. Money must be invested in infrastructure, as well, in order to improve the water systems.
Another solution that has been put in place is the ten year plan that was proposed by the Haitian government in 2013 to combat cholera. However, two years later, the plan lacks the funds needed for water and sanitation as well as healthcare, hygiene education and vaccinations for cholera victims. Despite the efforts that have been put in place, the cholera cases continue to grow, especially in the poorer regions. With the seemingly never ending poverty and living conditions that are not being fixed, it is difficult to say when the epidemic will be cured.
One solution for this issue has been donations given for vaccinations. However, even with the millions of dollars flowing in from companies such as the United States Agency for International Development or the World Health Organization, many hospitals still do not have enough supplies for the influx of patients that they are receiving. Also, just vaccinations will not fix the problem. As more victims are being cured, more are also contracting the disease from drinking the dirty water that remains unfixed in their waterways. Money must be invested in infrastructure, as well, in order to improve the water systems.
Another solution that has been put in place is the ten year plan that was proposed by the Haitian government in 2013 to combat cholera. However, two years later, the plan lacks the funds needed for water and sanitation as well as healthcare, hygiene education and vaccinations for cholera victims. Despite the efforts that have been put in place, the cholera cases continue to grow, especially in the poorer regions. With the seemingly never ending poverty and living conditions that are not being fixed, it is difficult to say when the epidemic will be cured.
SOURCES:
Ivers, Louise C. "Ignoring the Plight of the Poor in Haiti." BostonGlobe.com. Boston Globe, 19 Nov. 15. Web. 10 Dec. 2015. <https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2015/11/19/ignoring-plight-poor-haiti/sHrOVUN43LM6kyNeWBq6CL/story.html>.
Nienaber, Georgianne. "The Deadly Cholera Book of Numbers Swells in Haiti." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 1 Dec. 2015. Web. 10 Dec. 2015. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/georgianne-nienaber/the-deadly-cholera-book-o_b_8690890.html>.
Rosen, Armin. "How the UN Caused a Massive Cholera Outbreak in Haiti."Business Insider. Business Insider, Inc, 09 Apr. 2015. Web. 10 Dec. 2015. <http://www.businessinsider.com/cholera-outbreak-in-haiti-and-the-un-2015-4>.
Struck, Doug. "Everyone Wants to Fight Cholera, but No One Can Agree on How." STAT. STAT, 07 Dec. 2015. Web. 10 Dec. 2015. <http://www.statnews.com/2015/12/07/cholera-vaccine-debate/>.
Ivers, Louise C. "Ignoring the Plight of the Poor in Haiti." BostonGlobe.com. Boston Globe, 19 Nov. 15. Web. 10 Dec. 2015. <https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2015/11/19/ignoring-plight-poor-haiti/sHrOVUN43LM6kyNeWBq6CL/story.html>.
Nienaber, Georgianne. "The Deadly Cholera Book of Numbers Swells in Haiti." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 1 Dec. 2015. Web. 10 Dec. 2015. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/georgianne-nienaber/the-deadly-cholera-book-o_b_8690890.html>.
Rosen, Armin. "How the UN Caused a Massive Cholera Outbreak in Haiti."Business Insider. Business Insider, Inc, 09 Apr. 2015. Web. 10 Dec. 2015. <http://www.businessinsider.com/cholera-outbreak-in-haiti-and-the-un-2015-4>.
Struck, Doug. "Everyone Wants to Fight Cholera, but No One Can Agree on How." STAT. STAT, 07 Dec. 2015. Web. 10 Dec. 2015. <http://www.statnews.com/2015/12/07/cholera-vaccine-debate/>.