Haiti Earthquake: Its Impact to Dominican Republic

National Agency for Emergencies and Disasters

Haiti Earthquake: Its Impact to Dominican Republic

St Kitts, 1- 3 June 2010Dr. Juan Ml. Rodríguez, Director

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Dominican Republic is situated in the Caribbean and shares the

Hispanola island with Haiti

Estimated Population (2009)8.9 million people

Land area: 48,734 kms2.

Capital: Santo Domingo

Language: Spanish

R-I

R-IV

R-VI

R-VII

R-II R-III

R-VIII

R-VR-0

Sto. Dgo.

Divided in 9 regions

MINSTRY OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND SOCIAL WELFARENational Agency for Emergencies and Disasters

Regional Divisions for the Health Sector

General SituationGeneral Situation1

Summary: On the 12th Jan 2010, 4:35 pm local time, the island of Hispañola experienced an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4 in Richter scale, which epicenter was located in Port-au- Príncipe, Haiti.

General SituationGeneral Situation1

Majority of the victims were provided health care at the General Melenciano Hospital located along the border area of Jimani. Other victims were treated at hospitals in the border provinces of Dajabón and Elías Piña.

Health facilities of DR were not affected by the earthquake.

The Emergency Committee of the Ministry of Health were immediately activated.

General SituationGeneral Situation1

1985 patients attended during the emergency

217 amputated patients

121 patients immobilized

15 registered deaths

475 patients referred to external healthcare network

4 TB cases

12 cases of malaria falciparum

1 HIV positive case

2 Response

Announcement of the Ministry of Health Emergency Committee regarding the emergency;

Communication with regional and provincial health officials to analyze situation and evaluate existing health infrastructure;

Dispatch of 8 mobile clinics, teams of surgeon, othropedics, 10 ambulances to the Province of Independencia (Jimani);

Coordination with Civil Defense;

Activation of the Hospital Network of Region IV:

Coordination with national authorities to speed up the process for K9 rescuers;

Others.

2 Response

2 Response Establishment of a Situation Room in the Province of Independencia

With the assistance of PAHO/WHO

Coordination meeting with

the local authorities.

2 Response

Operation set-up and and authorization for Buen Samaritano Hospital, Jimani

Other centers were set up as temporary shelters.

2 Response

2 Response

Involvement of the Region VI Hospital Network

1) For those who crossed the border area of Elías Piña

2) For patients requiring referral from Jimaní

2 Response

Health facilities of Region VI were overwhelmed, causing regular medical consultations (and follow up of local patients) to stop.

2 Response

Movement of people to the Region’s health facilities and the established shelters continued…

2 Response

Due to the arrival of supplies, donated or otherwise purchased, there was a need to identify a warehouse with SUMA capabilites;

The MoH Department of Environmental Health installed latrines in vounteer health workers’ camps in Jimani;

The MoH Department of Epidemiology activated its Early Warning System;

The mobile units of “Comedores Económicos” provided food to victims and their families, and to first aiders working in the area;

Other agencies like UNDP, UNICEF, USAID, and other NGOs working with the MoH.

2 Response

The Dominican Republuc Ministry of Health organized the dispatch and delivery of supplies to temporary shelters, including the continuation of medical care of victims.

2 Respuesta

Mobile kitchens made available by the government of Dominican Republic. Provides food to victims and their families, and to those involved in providing first aid. Special menus were provided to infants, mothers and older person.

2 Response

The Department of Evironmental Health :

Surveillance and water quality monitoring in health centers and shelters.

2 Response

Periodic vector control in health centers and shelters, including perimeters of humanitarain assistance locales.

Department of Environmental Health:

Introduction of waste disposal mangement to workers in health centers.

2 Response

Department of Environmental Health:

Maintenance of latrines in health centers.

Cleaning and maintenance of chemically-treated toilets.

2 Response

Coordination with different teams of volunteers in

providing humanitarian aid.

2 Response

Relocation of affected people in Dominican Republic

On the 6th day, the services of a center, Love A Child in Fond Parisien was evaluated by the National Department for Emergencies, Department of Environmental Health, and COPRESIDA. Plans were to relocate/transfer patients from health centers in Jimani and other provinces for follow up care in the center.

3 Final Words

The assistance provided by different agencies, especially PAHO/WHO was critical in the emergency. Also important to acknowledge the assistance received from from NGOs, collaboration of Civil Defense, Armed Forces among others.

Equally important is the medical assistance provided by Puerto Rico, who arrived in Dominican Republic with all their supplies, including ambulances.

The Dominican Republic authorities estimated USD 27.7 million to response to the emergency caused by the earthquake in Haiti.

Dominican Republic’s humanitarian response to the emergency which occurred along the border was fast, effective, coordinated and timely.

Muchas Gracias

“Queda cada vez mas comprobado que Hospitales preparados y seguros es

la meta de un Gobierno”