Haiti
Country Overview
Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, and its citizens face a number of health issues directly correlated with poverty. Of these issues, perhaps the most devastating are neglected tropical diseases (NTDs)—especially lymphatic filariasis (LF) and soil transmitted helminths (STHs). Over 26% of the population is infected with LF and many are co-infected with STHs; these diseases have devastating effects on the physical, economic, and social well-being of Haitians.
Current Effort
For the last nine years, the University of Notre Dame in support of the Haitian government and its partners have been addressing LF and STHs in Haiti using international protocols set forth by World Health Organization for the Global Program for the Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF). The effort has continued with community-wide Mass Drug Administration (MDA) targeting LF and STH with diethylcarbamazine (DEC) and albendazole with financial support coming mainly from The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with significant in-kind donations of drugs from GlaxoSmithKline PLC and Honeywell, Inc.
In 2008, support from USAID’s NTD Control Program has allowed Haiti to dramatically increase their capacity to address control of NTDs. With cooperation from the Haitian Ministry of Health and Population (MSPP) and RTI International, these additional funds support consortium partner IMA World Health allowing them to scale up Haiti’s effort and to make great strides toward the country’s goal of elimination.
Starting with one commune of approximately 150,000 persons during 2000, treatments increased to cover 2.5 million people in 50 communes by 2008.
Continued donations of DEC greatly enhance the national effort to fight NTDs by allowing the Haiti Program to scale up current drug distribution activities. A 2008 donation by US actress and Global Network Ambassador Alyssa Milano was designated for the purchase of enough DEC for over 2/3 of Haiti’s population, and has enabled the Notre Dame Haiti Program to scale-up treatment coverage in 2009.
Remaining Gap
Despite recent donations, funding gaps remain, and—unlike many other drugs used to treat NTDs—DEC has not been donated by the pharmaceutical industry, so Haiti will continue to rely on donations to keep the program going. Your efforts to help fund NTD control efforts will go a long way in improving the health of Haitians; click here here to learn more.
