96 people have been infected with cholera, 6 of them died (1) of the epidemic in the department of the Southeast. This is the last assessment of Health Direction, dated of Monday, December 6, 2010. Dr. Yves Gaston Deslouches, Departmental Director of Health in the South East said that "all entities are mobilized to provide necessary care for those infected with the virus."

One Cholera Treatment Center (CTC) was established at the Hopital Saint Michel de Jacmel, it is the only CTC of the department able to accommodate the patients with the support of Doctor without borders (MSF). According to Dr. Deslouche, the commune of Jacmel is the zone most touched by the cholera epidemic (2). " We are not able to give precise figures on those infected in Jacmel, as the number increases every day , 10 cases have been confirmed today [Tuesday, December 7]" he said.

A decision was taken by the authorities of the department, to build a second Cholera Treatment Center (CTC) of 200 beds. A land (3) has been designated at La Saline, a locality of Jacmel. This decision has angered the people of the area. Having heard the news, members of the association of young "Sympathie en action pour la culture (AJACHS)" have organized a meeting last Saturday with various community leaders to counter this action by the authorities. Following this meeting, residents organized a protest movement where they launched hostile remarks against the authorities, particularly on the mayor of Jacmel. "Nou pa gen dlo ak kouran, epi se kolera yap pot pou nou" they deplored. They contradict the statements of authorities who claim that La Saline is an isolated area. These last are mobilized to prevent the installation of CTC in the area.

(1) Note that the latest report from the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP) in its assessment, dated of December 4, 2010, for its part indicate 21 deaths in the department of South-east.

(2) The mortality rate in the department of South-East (22.6%) is the second highest in the country after Grand'Anse (58.1%).

(3) It should be noted that, the space which was designated to install the CTC is located on the land of the Collège Notre Dame du Perpétuel Secours, the only secondary school in La Saline.

HL/ HaitiLibre / CB