Cholera epidemic stopped in one Haitian province

A cholera clinic in Port-au-Prince

Pastor Revenel Benoit reported from Haiti November 30 that the cholera epidemic has been stopped in Artibonite province where it began and raged for weeks. The Lutheran Church of Haiti (LCH) operated three clinics treating the sick and ministering to them spiritually. LCMS World Relief and Human Care operated two additional clinics in the Central Plateau and in Carradeux, a suburb of Port-au-Prince.

“We should praise the Lord for this turn of events, for which so many prayed” said Dr. John Wilch, president of Haiti Lutheran Mission Society. He cautioned there could still be new outbreaks in other areas of Haiti.

The pastor reported that LCH’s radio and TV broadcasts are educating people in hygiene routines to prevent infection. However, many poor people do not have the means to boil all the water they need for drinking, cooking and washing.

The cholera epidemic across Haiti has claimed more than 1700 lives and is still affecting thousands. Dr. Wilch urges continued prayer for the country and for the Lutheran ministries there following January’s earthquake, November’s tropical storm flooding and currently the cholera epidemic. Cholera is caused by bacteria spread in contaminated water or food, often through feces. If untreated, it can kill within a day by causing rapid dehydration.

Print this article