1. Amplifying Voices,
Highlighting Concerns
Impact of the Earthquake on the HIV Positive People in Haiti
Collapsed Ministry of Health, Haiti after the earthquake.
Many public hospitals are still non functional, five months
after the quake.
“No special mechanism has been put in place nor is there
any monitoring to ensure that people like us who need
nutrition have access to food rations, temporary shelters
and health care.”
- Joinel, PLWHA
Photo credit: Jean Claude Louise, Panos Caribbean
Background Grassroots organizations too are worried about the lack of
access to ARVs due to breakdown of the health
On January 12, 2010 an earthquake of catastrophic infrastructure. “Many PLWHA have stopped taking ARVs
magnitude hit Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince. The death toll and are developing resistance. If the government and
has been estimated at almost 300,000 people, one million other stakeholders do not take necessary measures, this
Haitians were left homeless and many more displaced. may cause Haiti’s success story to crumble”.
Before the quake, there were 120,000 people living with HIV
in Haiti. Initial reports estimate that fewer than 70,000 Next steps:
positive people live in affected areas and 19,000 of those Panos Caribbean (Haiti) calls for:
are on antiretroviral treatment (ART).
Increasing prevention, care, support and
Since most hospitals and private clinics were destroyed in treatment services in non affected areas and to
the quake, it has been difficult to provide essential services those displaced
to those living with AIDS among other aid relief effort. Though
a number of international agencies rushed in to provide help, Nutritional support to people on treatment
relief efforts have been uncoordinated and fragmented. Support to re-establish the infrastructure for
AIDS services
Voices from the ground in June 2010
In the midst of the chaos, those living with HIV and AIDS are
suffering. In June 2010, five months after the quake, many HIV
Positive People have no access to food, water, medicines and
shelter.
“I returned to Saint Marc, after living in Port-au-Prince for
20 years, where I was a member of a Positive People’s group.
I cannot find anybody to count on in St-Marc.”
- Sipreus, PLWHA
www.panosaids.org
“Many Positive People that were taking medicines moved to
the countryside where the health infrastructure was For details contact:
nonexistent, and where antiretrovirals (ARVs) were not 20, Route de Freres, Petion-Ville, B.P. 1595
available even before the quake. We know some whose HT-6110, Port–au–Prince, Haiti
health situation is getting worse.” Info@panosaids.org
- Medley, member of an advocacy and jclouis@panoscaribbean.org
support group for Positive People anushree@panosaids.org
WEPE0761 Wednesday 21 July, 2010
Where: Poster Exhibition Area, When: 12.30 - 14.30 Hrs