amplifying voices,highlighting concerns
TRANSCRIPT
Background On January 12, 2010 an earthquake of catastrophic magnitude hit Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince. The death toll has been estimated at almost 300,000 people, one million Haitians were left homeless and many more displaced.
Before the quake, there were 120,000 people living with HIV in Haiti. Initial reports estimate that fewer than 70,000 positive people live in affected areas and 19,000 of those are on antiretroviral treatment (ART).
Since most hospitals and private clinics were destroyed in the quake, it has been difficult to provide essential services to those living with AIDS among other aid relief effort. Though a number of international agencies rushed in to provide help, relief efforts have been uncoordinated and fragmented.
Voices from the ground in June 2010In the midst of the chaos, those living with HIV and AIDS are suffering. In June 2010, five months after the quake, many HIV Positive People have no access to food, water, medicines and shelter.
“I returned to Saint Marc, after living in Port-au-Prince for 20 years, where I was a member of a Positive People’s group. I cannot find anybody to count on in St-Marc.”
- Sipreus, PLWHA
“Many Positive People that were taking medicines moved to the countryside where the health infrastructure was nonexistent, and where antiretrovirals (ARVs) were not available even before the quake. We know some whose health situation is getting worse.”
- Medley, member of an advocacy andsupport group for Positive People
www.panosaids.org
For details contact:20, Route de Freres, Petion-Ville, B.P. 1595
HT-6110, Port–au–Prince, [email protected]
[email protected]@panosaids.org
Grassroots organizations too are worried about the lack of access to ARVs due to breakdown of the health infrastructure. “Many PLWHA have stopped taking ARVs and are developing resistance. If the government and other stakeholders do not take necessary measures, this may cause Haiti’s success story to crumble”.
Next steps: Panos Caribbean (Haiti) calls for:
Increasing prevention, care, support and treatment services in non affected areas and to those displaced
Nutritional support to people on treatment
Support to re-establish the infrastructure for AIDS services
Collapsed Ministry of Health, Haiti after the earthquake. Many public hospitals are still non functional, five months after the quake.“No special mechanism has been put in place nor is there any monitoring to ensure that people like us who need nutrition have access to food rations, temporary shelters and health care.”
- Joinel, PLWHAPhoto credit: Jean Claude Louise, Panos Caribbean
Amplifying Voices,Highlighting ConcernsImpact of the Earthquake on the HIV Positive People in Haiti
WEPE0761 Wednesday 21 July, 2010Where: Poster Exhibition Area, When: 12.30 - 14.30 Hrs