An Earthquake in Haiti Sheds Light on the Important Role of Public Health Professionals

By The Harbinger Editorial Staff

As the poorest nation in the western hemisphere, Haiti has long been plagued by a weak political, economic, and environmental infrastructure as well as an insufficient public health system and high rates of disease. Nearly half the population is illiterate, more than 80% are unemployed and 2/3 live in abject poverty, sustaining themselves on less than $2 US dollars a day. Less than half the Haitian population does not have access to primary care, and HIV/AIDS rates are strikingly high.

On January 12, 2010 a 7.0 magnitude earthquake devastated the capitol city of Port-au-Prince, killing over 200,000 residents and leaving millions homeless. The aftermath of this natural disaster further highlighted how vulnerable populations, such as those in Haiti, disproportionately suffer.

Much like Hurricane Katrina exposed the economic, educational, and health disparities of poor, African-American families living in the destitute neighborhoods of New Orleans, Louisiana, the earthquake in Haiti forced the world to reflect on why the Haitian people suffered so severely. Within the opening months of this year, earthquakes ranging from 7.2 to 8.8 magnitudes also struck Mexico, California, Chile, and Turkey yet damage in these countries was significantly less; comparatively, only 57 died in Turkey and 531 died in Chile. Haiti’s wreckage was a direct result of its abject poverty, as weak building standards and shoddy construction led to the collapse of built structures and a devastating death toll.

Although the earthquake may have exposed the gross poverty and inequity in Haiti, it also provided public health professionals an opportunity to consider how to prevent or reduce future tragedies in Haiti and in similarly impoverished countries. A successful vaccination campaign has reached 400,000 children and adults, and according to the World Health Organization, disease outbreaks have not increased nor reached epidemic proportions, which may have been expected without the diligent vaccination efforts. As the rainy season is underway, international non-profit agencies have donated thousands of anti-malarial bed nets which should similarly curb disease rates, especially as so many citizens remain homeless or living in outdoor tents. Developing robust water, sanitation, and health care infrastructure requires significant up-front investment, yet provides long-lasting value to the community and improves its resilience to natural disasters. The outpour of international donations and attention on Haiti may help the government and aid organizations leverage these resources and momentum in order to build a stronger, more sustainable Haiti.

Destruction such as that experienced in the Haiti earthquake causes devastating physical and emotional loss yet also spurs the opportunity for great strides in health and human rights.