Primary Healthcare Programmes, Haiti

Staff at the mobile clinics focus on treating communicable diseases as well as on prevention. Each clinic carries out up to 1,000 consultations every month, and targets those with limited access to health care services, displaced communities, women and children. The mobile clinics each consist of two vehicles that are kitted out with medical equipment, drugs and staff that are able to provide health care services.

Merlin’s Cholera Treatment and Prevent programme funds the sixty-bed Cholera Treatment Centre (CTC) in Port-au-Prince serving 600 cholera patients a month and prevention activities in the centre, at Oral Rehydration Points, within the CTC and at a community level.

A further project intended to provide the infrastructure for longer-term medical care is supporting the rehabilitation of the Caravelle Health Centre which was damaged in the earthquake, leaving part of the building unusable and no reliable water or electricity supply.

WJR contributes to the funding for the reconstruction and repair work required as the Centre’s current state is unsustainable to provide quality care. The fully rebuilt building will be constructed to earthquake safety standards to reduce further risk of damage. The clinic will remain open during its rehabilitation, serving on average 1,380 a month with antenatal and postnatal care and advice on preventing the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.

*Merlin is an international medical relief agency, with significant experience operating in post disaster environments.