Face to the epidemic of cholera which prevails since mid-October in Haiti and to compensate for the lack of education and information, the government held on November 14, a panel discussion of 4 hours, live broadcasted on all the radios and television channels of the country.

Among the guests : The President of the Republic of Haiti, Réne Préval, Haiti's Health Minister Dr. Alex Larsen, Martin Télémaque, Director of Risk Communication at the Ministry of Culture and Communication, Dr. Jacques Boncy, Director of the National Public Health Laboratory, Dr. Roc Magloire, Haiti's chief epidemiologist, Dr. Yoléne Suréna, from the country's Risk and Disaster Management, Dr. Evelyn D'graff from PAHO-Haiti, and representatives of U.N.'s Minustah.

For René Préval, the State has its share of responsibility in the spread of the epidemic : "Today the country has no sanitation. There is no water that is not polluted. The network is unreliable. Whatever water you drink, it should be treated because the state can not guarantee its reliability".

We are experiencing a serious crisis. I do not want to defend my head against the State, but the State has not done its job. It's not your fault, not mine. We're in a situation such that we recommend everyone does not drink water without treating it first".

Such remarks leaves speechless...

The State having been unable for years to provide services to its population, the president acknowledged that less than 40% of Haitians are connected to water distribution pipes. Water, which is unfit for consumption. As to grips quickly with the resolution of this problem, Rene Preval said with a smile that he would convey the situation to the next president will take office on February 7.

Nigel Fisher, Coordinator of Humanitarian Affairs United Nations in Haiti said during the show "This epidemic is a crisis and this crisis will last and we will not resolve in a few months."

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-1641-haiti-epidemic-the-real-culprits-of-the-epidemic.html

HL/ HaitiLibre