From Progress Toward Rebuilding Haiti’s Health System:
On January 12, 2010, the world looked on as Haiti struggled with the aftermath of the massive 7.0 magnitude earthquake that killed over 200,000, left millions in need of urgent medical attention, and devastated an already weak national infrastructure. More than 2,000,000 people became displaced when their homes were destroyed, creating increased risk for infectious diseases from overcrowding and poor living conditions as they gathered in internally displaced persons camps. The disaster triggered a response from nations around the world. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was among the first U.S. government agencies to provide Haiti with assistance. A dedicated, multi-disciplinary team at CDC with diverse subject matter expertise mobilized and quickly began deploying to provide direct support on the ground in Haiti. In partnership with the Haitian Ministry of Public Heath and Population, they identified priority public health needs and developed a plan for obtaining funding to address those needs. This group of CDC experts filled a unique niche which had not previously existed at CDC, public health systems reconstruction.
Click on the report to continue reading about Haiti’s challenges and progress.