Post-Earthquake Health Response in Nippes and South Departements in Haiti

On August 14th, Southern Haiti was struck by a magnitude 7.2 Richter earthquake. The Nippes, South (Sud), and Grand’Anse Departments were the worst hit. In Nippes, 137 people were found dead, 1,458 persons were injured and about 29,246 houses and 9 health facilities were destroyed and damaged (PAHO, SitRep No5, 08272021). In the South department, 1,850 people were found dead, more than 10,000 persons were injured, about 30,122 homes were destroyed and 42,737 were damaged. A rapid assessment undertaken by DoTW in conjunction with local health authorities found that all 9 government health structures in Nippes, as well as 4 government health institutions in the South were being overwhelmed by patients and not able to effectively care for the injured or respond efficiently to emergencies. While several cases were transferred to Diquini Adventist Hospital in PAP and the Miragoane Department Hospital St Therese1, these referral hospitals lack sufficient equipment and staff to receive all affected patients. As such there are numerous injured persons with serious injuries (cranial traumas, broken legs and hips) being treated in local health centers without sufficient equipment and personnel.

Amplifying the concern that those injured from the earthquake may not be able to receive proper care, there is the fear that the earthquake may induce an acute on chronic situation based on Haiti’s continual poor health indicators. According to the 2020 Haiti Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO) of the United Nations, 71.5k Haitians had infectious and chronic diseases before the 2021 earthquake, 370k people were living with an increased probability of ”being exposed to pathologies of all kinds”, and 456k Haitians were living with poor water and sanitation services resulting in cases of acute diarrhea and typhoid. According to the Humanitarian Needs Snapshot 2021, 2,951,607 people in Haiti are expected to need humanitarian assistance in the health sector in 2021, of whom 40% are children under 18, and 65% are women and girls. These figures represent an increase of 26% since 2020 and is expected to impact all 10 Departments in Haiti.

Furthermore, about 300,000 women are likely to become pregnant in 2021 and the risk of death during pregnancy and childbirth remains extremely high, with Haiti’s maternal mortality rate remaining the highest in the Americas, with 529 deaths per 100,000 live births (EMMUS VI. 2017). Furthermore, health outcomes risk being further exacerbated by the socio-political and economic context of Haiti, in which social and political unrest following the assassination of President Jovenel Moise on July 7 and increases in kidnapping has accelerated the economic deterioration of families, further limiting their ability to access and receive health care.

With over 20 years of experience in Haiti, and as one of the only active non-profits organization working in Nippes and who responded to the Matthew emergency in the South, DoTW is uniquely positioned to address these urgent health needs and implement an immediate response to the 2021 Earthquake. With a team of 80 staff members, 6 country-wide offices (including PAP and Nippes), and close relationships with the Ministry of Health’s (MSPP) Departmental Health Directorates, as well as local organizations and partners, DoTW has deep experience implementing emergency health programming in emergencies, including comprehensive interventions following the 2010 Haiti earthquake and cholera epidemic, 2016’s Hurricane Mathew, and the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, as well as bolstering essential health services, including primary health care (PHC) and reproductive health support. Following a rapid assessment and consultations with local health authorities immediately after the earthquake. DoTW proposes a 12-month, $2 million emergency health intervention that will support directly 165,802 persons via 13 health centers and community support in Nippes and the South to respond to the surge in patients while staying on target to meet longer-term development goals. This will be established through a combination of surge support via medical staff and supplemental medications and equipment, bolstering of health systems and basic health care delivery, and targeted rehabilitation support to earthquake-damaged health structures.