Haiti: Two month post-earthquake update of MSF interventions

Two months after the January 12 earthquake, medical needs remain immense in Haiti and living conditions are extremely precarious.

Haiti | 12 March 2010

Although the urgent life-saving phase of medical care has passed there continues to be a critical emergency context, in which thousands of people need post-operative care, rehabilitative care and physiotherapy, as well as psychological counselling. The extremely difficult living conditions place stress on people who live in camps or in tents throughout the city and its surrounding areas. The rainy season has begun, adding to the horrific living conditions of many who still don’t have proper access to sanitation facilities, and augmenting their chances of contracting malaria. There is also insecurity in camps due to poor lighting facilities or poor security management, indicated partly by an increase in sexual violence cases.

Photo: © Julie Rémy

Because it is crucial that patients be cared for until the end of their medical treatment, Médecins Sans Frontières MSF has expanded its capacity to include specialized postoperative care – including plastic and micro-surgery, treatment for burn victims, physical therapy, rehabilitation, and psychological counselling. MSF is also focusing on primary health care, with out-patient departments in various locations in the city, and with secondary-level health care services, including emergency obstetrics, intensive therapeutic care for malnourished children, and inpatient care for paediatrics and adults.

MSF also continues its activities in water distribution, building of sanitation facilities such as latrines, and the distribution of tents, hygiene and cooking kits, and closely monitors the situation in the camps to inform or advocate to authorities about the unmet needs of the population.

Currently MSF has 348 international staff in Haiti, working closely with over 3000 Haitian staff. With the expansion of services, the 26 MSF hospitals and health centres can accommodate 1346 patients. In the last two months, MSF teams have performed over 3700 surgeries, provided psychological counselling to over 22,000 people, and treated 54,789 patients. MSF teams have distributed over 18,000 non-food item (NFI) kits (this includes: kitchen kits + hygiene kits + Jerry cans + blankets + plastic sheeting), and 10,500 tents.

**Figures to date (March 10, 2010)**
	Total
International staff	348
National staff	3,060
Operating theatres	16
Number of beds	1,340
Patients treated	54,789
Surgical interventions	3,781
NFI Kits distributed per household	17,900
Tents distributed	10,456
Number of sites	26 + 4 sites mobile clinics
Mental health	22,792