Covid-19

The measures put in place in Haiti to stem the spread of COVID-19 seem to be effective at the moment (as of August 7th, there were 7,544 recorded cases and 171 deaths), but the country’s sanitation systems remain extremely weak. There is little infrastructure for proper sanitation and those that exist are not well-equipped. Even under normal circumstances, the systems in place aren’t sufficient to respond to the needs of the population. As such, natiowide actions are needed to raise awareness, mobilize people, put in place preventative measures and ensure medical care. 

En Haïti, les mesures sanitaires mises en place semblent pour l’instant avoir permis de freiner la pandémie au pays (7544 cas et 171 morts au 7 août), mais le système sanitaire haïtien demeure très vulnérable. Il y a très peu d’infrastructures sanitaires et elles sont peu équipées. Même en situation normale, le système sanitaire haïtien ne peut pas répondre au besoin de la population. Des actions de mobilisation et de sensibilisation, de prévention et de prise en charge médicale à l’échelle nationale sont nécessaires.

In Madagascar, the pandemic is exacerbating an already precarious situation. As of July 31^st, over 10,000 COVID-19 cases were recorded in the country. This is a worrisome progression in a country where sanitation facilities are lacking and the testing capacity is limited. As early as March, many began to flee the capital city of Anatanarivo for their villages or agricultural areas due to fears related to the virus and a steep rise in the cost of food.