Haiti Earthquake: Possibly 500,000 permanently disabled
The United Nations have estimated that for every death, another three are seriously injured - and through delays in treatment, this could lead to 450,000 newly disabled people in Haiti.
The population of Port-au-Prince before the earthquake was approximately 3 million people. Based on the estimated death toll from the January 12th earthquake, this would mean that there is the likelihood that 450,000 could be newly disabled.
Before the earthquake, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 7% of Haiti's entire population of 9 million were disabled and that half of that number we children under the age of 15 years.
Photo: Roberto Stevenson
CBM has been working with local partners in Haiti since 1976, and will continue working there for many, many years to ensure that those who were disabled before the earthquake, and those who have been disabled by the earthquake, continue to receive medical treatment and rehabilitation services, education and livelihood services.
Emergency Response
Our Emergency Coordinator and Regional Director travelled to Haiti just days after the earthquake and they have been working with our partners to assess the situation and best plan CBM's response. They have identified the following:
- People losing limbs because of gangrene and crushing injuries
- Spinal cord injuries and head injuries causing mobility problems
- Patients being discharged early from hospital without access to other emergency services
- Insufficient follow-up and lack of appropriate advice to patients
- Lack of professional physio/trained staff in country
- Secondary complications causing more disability
- About 50% of the injured are children - highly traumatic experience and therefore have experienced psychological trauma
Understandably this is an emergency situation and, as such, the same quality of care is not available, but it highlights why there will be so many permanently disabled people in Haiti for many years to come.
CBM UK launched their Haiti Earthquake Appeal on January 13.