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FROM THE FIELD

The Haitian Red Cross fights malaria in areas often affected by cyclones
23 Apr 2009 16:16:00 GMT
 Source: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) - Switzerland
By Jean-Luc Martinage, IFRC, Geneva

Website: Website: http://www.ifrc.org

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Once the families have been identified, the volunteers organize community meetings, discussion groups and home visits, during which they explain the dangers of malaria and how impregnated mosquito nets can provide effective protection. (p-HTI0099)
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Once the families have been identified, the volunteers organize community meetings, discussion groups and home visits, during which they explain the dangers of malaria and how impregnated mosquito nets can provide effective protection. (p-HTI0099)

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The year 2008 was not a good one for Haiti. This small country - one of the most vulnerable in the world - suffered a string of cyclones that devastated coastal areas, claiming a considerable number of victims and causing widespread destruction.

The health effects of the disaster were also considerable. The presence of stagnant water led to a resurgence of diseases caused by dirty water, and the dramatic rise in the number of mosquitoes led to an increased risk of malaria.

"Right after the cyclones struck the country, volunteers from the Haitian Red Cross distributed impregnated mosquito nets," explains Anne-Sophie Porche, the health delegate of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in Haiti. "But we very quickly realized that we needed to extend immediate recovery efforts to include training for volunteers on how to prevent malaria, detect suspected cases and refer them to health facilities, so that they could disseminate relevant messages in the community, such as the importance of using mosquito nets, particularly for pregnant women and children under five".

Vulnerable communities

This was how the programme, initially designed to distribute mosquito nets to 10,000 families, came to be launched in various areas in the country affected by the cyclones. Subsequently, it was extended to the area of Nippes, in the southwest of the country, which was chosen because it is an inaccessible area populated by vulnerable people, where the bad condition of roads hinders access to health care. Most inhabitants are poor. Although the effects of the disaster in this region received little media coverage, the impact was no less real or traumatic.

Around fifty volunteers from the Haitian National Red Cross Society have been involved in the malaria prevention programme over the past few weeks. Their job is to identify the people most at risk in 45 places in the towns of Miragoane and Baradères, particularly households with pregnant women and children under five, who are most at risk from malaria. The three-month prevention and education campaign targets approximately 6,000 people out of a catchment population of around 60,000.

Thanks to the domino effect of the dissemination of messages, it is estimated that a total of around 30,000 people will be reached indirectly through their neighbours, relatives and community leaders (mayors, priests, hospital directors, etc.).

Local volunteers

"Once families have been identified, volunteers organize community meetings, discussion groups and home visits, during which they explain the dangers of malaria and how impregnated mosquito nets can provide effective protection. They then distribute the mosquito nets and visit the beneficiaries' homes to ensure that they have been properly fitted," explains Anne-Sophie Porche.

Furthermore, these same volunteers are trained to detect people presenting the telltale signs of malaria and send them to health centres as quickly as possible.

"All our volunteers live in the town where they work. They therefore know the area that they operate in very well, which increases their credibility in the eyes of the beneficiaries. This increases acceptance of prevention messages in the community and promotes changes in behaviour for the benefit of their health," explains Dr Myrtha Louissaint, head of the Haitian Red Cross health department.

Persistent danger

Many volunteers recruited for the programme to combat malaria also received first aid training, so that they are able to answer basic public health questions from beneficiaries when they visit their homes during the malaria prevention campaign promoting the proper use of mosquito nets.

"In addition to the recovery assistance provided to help people get back to normal after the damage caused by the cyclones last year, the project also contributes to community health education and prevention efforts, making local communities more aware of the dangers of malaria and ensuring that they are better prepared to deal with future outbreaks of malaria when natural disasters strike Haiti again," concludes Dr Myrtha Louissaint.


[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]

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[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]

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