Haiti: Cholera Resurgence, Health Authorities' Emergency Plan
By La Rédaction · Port-au-Prince · · 2 min read · Updated 24 April 2026
Translated from French — AI-assisted and reviewed by the editorial team. The French version is authoritative. Read the original · About our translation policy
PORT-AU-PRINCE.— The specter of cholera once again looms over Haiti. Several confirmed suspected cases have been recorded in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince and in certain departments, notably the West and Center, prompting health authorities to activate a national response plan.
According to Bertrand Sinal, the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP), this resurgence of cases is linked to the deterioration of hygiene conditions, the shortage of drinking water, and the security crisis which prevents access to certain areas.
A Reactivated Response Plan
Faced with this situation, Dr. Gabriel Thimothé, Director General of the MSPP, convened a special meeting at the beginning of October with central directors and the departmental directorate of the West. Following this meeting, a national response plan was adopted.
This plan includes, notably:
the strengthening of epidemiological surveillance in all affected communes;
the reactivation of Acute Diarrhea Treatment Centers (CTDA) to accommodate severe cases; the establishment of chlorinated water points in public places;
and an awareness campaign on hygiene practices (hand washing, water treatment, food preservation). The ministry calls for vigilance and collaboration from everyone, stressing that the fight against cholera also depends on individual and community behavior. A Resurgence Aggravated by the Security Crisis The authorities acknowledge, however, that the implementation of the emergency plan faces major obstacles. In several neighborhoods of the capital, such as Cité Soleil, Dekayet in the Carrefour-Feuilles district, access for medical teams is hampered by armed violence. International organizations, notably the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) and UNICEF, provide their support to the MSPP, by supporting treatment facilities and distributing hygiene kits to internally displaced persons. According to humanitarian agency estimates, more than 1,700 suspected cases have been recorded since the beginning of the resurgence, nearly half of which are among children. Call for National Mobilization As the country faces a complex humanitarian crisis, the MSPP urges local authorities, community organizations, and the population to adopt preventive behaviors. “Prevention remains our first line of defense,” reminds Dr. Thimothé, who insists on the need to guarantee access to drinking water and functional sanitation infrastructure. The resurgence of cholera, nearly ten years after its official disappearance, highlights the fragility of the Haitian health system and the urgency of a collective effort to avoid a new health catastrophe. Jean Mapou
the strengthening of epidemiological surveillance in all affected communes;
the reactivation of Acute Diarrhea Treatment Centers (CTDA) to accommodate severe cases; the establishment of chlorinated water points in public places;
and an awareness campaign on hygiene practices (hand washing, water treatment, food preservation). The ministry calls for vigilance and collaboration from everyone, stressing that the fight against cholera also depends on individual and community behavior. A Resurgence Aggravated by the Security Crisis The authorities acknowledge, however, that the implementation of the emergency plan faces major obstacles. In several neighborhoods of the capital, such as Cité Soleil, Dekayet in the Carrefour-Feuilles district, access for medical teams is hampered by armed violence. International organizations, notably the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) and UNICEF, provide their support to the MSPP, by supporting treatment facilities and distributing hygiene kits to internally displaced persons. According to humanitarian agency estimates, more than 1,700 suspected cases have been recorded since the beginning of the resurgence, nearly half of which are among children. Call for National Mobilization As the country faces a complex humanitarian crisis, the MSPP urges local authorities, community organizations, and the population to adopt preventive behaviors. “Prevention remains our first line of defense,” reminds Dr. Thimothé, who insists on the need to guarantee access to drinking water and functional sanitation infrastructure. The resurgence of cholera, nearly ten years after its official disappearance, highlights the fragility of the Haitian health system and the urgency of a collective effort to avoid a new health catastrophe. Jean Mapou
