Stories from the field
Cholera treatment centre a sign of hope in Carrefour
By Katie Kallio, Information delegate, Carrefour
December 21, 2010
After only 30 hours of the first boxes hitting the ground in Carrefour Haiti, the Canadian Red Cross cholera treatment centre had already admitted its first patient, Bethnaida Elimar, a three year old girl from Carrefour.
“She was complaining of not feeling well,” explains her mother Lillian. “When I noticed she was showing the symptoms of cholera, I was so scared, I took her to the hospital right away.”
It is estimated that to date there are over 3,000 cases of cholera in Carrefour and these numbers continue to rise everyday. Lamentin, where the Canadian Red Cross centre is set up, has been identified as the worst-hit district of Carrefour.
“The other hospitals had no room for us,” explains her mother. “If it wasn’t for this centre, my little girl may not have survived.”
The girl, in serious condition, was immediately assessed and provided with IV fluids to help fight dehydration. After three days in the centre, the little girl is now alert, eating and drinking fluids on her own.
“She is recovering well,” says Danielle Levesque head nurse with the Canadian Red Cross hospital in Carrefour. “Cholera symptoms can sometimes become life threatening in only a few hours - this little girl arrived here just in time.”
When she is ready to go home the nurse will meet with her mother and provide her with a home-kit that will include oral rehydration salts, water purification tablets and information on how to stay healthy and protect themselves and their family from cholera.
“Cholera is a major concern in our community,” adds Lillian. “But this centre means that there is hope, not just for my little girl, but for all the parents here. Thank you to the Canadian Red Cross for setting up this hospital and taking such great care of our children.”
