Haiti – Health: The influx of wounded makes the needs of hospitals critical
22/04/2024 10:02:28
The sharp increase in the number of injured is putting enormous pressure on the few hospitals that still operate in the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, as they are severely short of medical supplies amid a surge in gun violence. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is taking the necessary measures to respond to their urgent needs and improve the population’s access to health care and humanitarian services
Some health facilities in the most affected areas are working at just-in-time due to the increase in the number of patients, and several others have been forced to close their doors due to insecurity. There is a serious shortage of medical supplies, including medicines, essential equipment, hospital beds and blood products.
“We receive a lot of gunshot wounds. From February 29 to April 15, 2024, we received around 200 gunshot wounds. The hospital is currently saturated in terms of bed occupancy with enormous needs,” explained Dr. Paul Junior Fontilus, Executive Director of the Peace University Hospital (HUP), the only functional public hospital in Port-au -Prince.
According to Dr. Fontilus, healthcare workers are making enormous sacrifices to help save the lives of Haitians trapped in armed violence.
Some health workers cannot reach their workplaces, leaving functioning hospitals understaffed. Patients whose lives are in danger can no longer receive emergency care.
“We are witnessing an unprecedented humanitarian situation in 2024 which has worsened since the escalation of armed violence at the end of February.
Like the few operational hospitals, the Peace University Hospital relies on the support of partners to maintain its services, but obstructions to movement due to insecurity and improvised roadblocks remain major obstacles to the delivery of medical supplies. urgent.
To meet some of the vast and growing needs in Port-au-Prince, the ICRC has recently provided dressing and surgical kits, hygiene and cleaning products (Sanipit and Probiotic) accompanied by personal protective equipment to health establishments including the Peace University Hospital, the Saint Camille Hospital, the Saint Luc Hospital, the Bernard Mevs Hospital, the Fontaine Hospital Center and the Siloé Medical Observation Center in Belikou.
Since January 2024, the ICRC’s efforts have included:
– Supply of 27 sets of dressings and 6 surgical kits to treat approximately 1,700 injured people to 6 health structures (MSF-France, Saint Camille Hospital, Saint Luc Hospital, Bernard Mevs Hospital, Peace University Hospital and Siloé Medical Observation Center in Belikou) and community health workers trained in first aid.
– Provision of 653,000 gallons of water to 52,800 people through water trucking activities at 5 IDP sites and 14 other areas.
– Distribution of hygiene products, tarpaulins and solar lamps to more than 2,000 displaced people.
– Donation of 360 kg of probiotics and 340 liters of Sanipit to 5 hospitals (Peace University Hospital, Fontaine Hospital Center, Saint Luc Hospital, Bernard Mevs and Foyer Saint Camille Hospital Center) as well as personal protective equipment to promote hygiene in these areas and reduce infections and nosocomial diseases.
– Donation of 3,000 gallons of fuel (Diesel) to the Peace University Hospital for its operation due to frequent power cuts.
– Donation of 100 mattresses to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).
– Training of 27 people from communities affected by armed violence in first aid and donation of 8 first aid kits.
– Training of 14 trainers from the National Ambulance Center, Médecins Sans Frontières and the Haitian Red Cross ambulance service on the de-escalation of violence.
– Provision of personal protective equipment to 25 volunteers working for the Haitian Red Cross ambulance service.
– Support for the Haitian Red Cross ambulance service which provided emergency care to 75 patients.
– Donation and installation of two water tanks with a capacity of 1,700 gallons on two sites to increase storage capacity.
HL/ ICRC/ HaïtiLibre
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