Haiti Hit By Cholera, Destruction In Hurricane Matthew Aftermath

Port-a-Piment hospital in southwest Haiti saw a huge number of patients coming in every 10 or 15 minutes, arriving on motorcycles with their family members and being admitted due to cholera.

It has been less than a week since Haiti was hit by Hurricane Matthew that killed a minimum of 1,000 people according to the records from local officials. The destruction caused by the hurricane seemed to be a major obstruction in the daily lives of people but now an issue even more grave has come up. The country is facing a public health crisis as cholera is spreading like an epidemic through rural communities that lack food, clean water and shelter.

According to Reuters, there were 39 cases of cholera early on Sunday but raised to 60 by the afternoon. Four people had already died due to this waterborne disease. The hospital's medical director, Missole Antoine believes that the numbers are going to rise.

There had been 13 cases of cholera that were reported before hurricane Matthew hit. However, the numbers have risen substantially since the extremely poor region has been cut off completely post the destructive hurricane. This hospital does not have an ambulance or even a car for that matter. Patients are coming in from miles away, carried by their relatives on camp beds, according to FOX News.

The damage caused to property and public amenities is no less. The scene on the streets was also very shocking. Houses that once stood upright were now reduced to mere rubble and twisted metal. Humans and animals suffered grave injuries and a large number of people have been killed in this havoc.

The banana crops in the region have been destroyed entirely as the vast field areas have now turned into leafy mush. No government aid arrived for the poor people on an early basis. Hence they had to rely on fallen coconuts for water and food.

Environment program employees are claiming that the destruction and loss caused in 2016 by Hurricane Matthew is much worse than that of 2010. The local wells in the village of Chevalier are contaminated with the dead bodies of livestock but the people have no other option than to drink that unhygienic water.

People in these places are just hoping for sufficient government help that might help them to rebuild their homes and bring their lives back on track.