Battling cholera: All in a day's work

Dr Krishnan (right) boarding a cholera aid delivery flight to Ouanaminthe, northern Haiti.

At Port-au-Prince airport, our four-member team is getting ready to fly on a chartered plane to Ouanaminthe, near the Dominican Republic border.

Plan has worked in Haiti for 37 years and operates in Ouanaminthe, which has been badly hit and is considered as the flashpoint of the cholera outbreak that has so far claimed over 1250 lives.

I have worked in cholera response in the past - but what is unfolding here is difficult to capture in words. I am currently deployed as leader of the cholera response team. In addition to our frontline staff, we are deploying public health experts and medical doctors.

The small, rusty Czech plane is loaded up to the cabin roof with aid boxes - 1000kg of oral rehydration packets, soaps and other materials.

Preventable disease

Cholera is not rocket science – it is a very preventable disease (most people will make a full recovery if given quick, simple rehydration and treatment in critical situations).

However, weak health systems, limited infrastructure that crumpled during the earthquake and other disasters, protests and lack of understanding are making it very complicated to get help to those in need. Violence and virus make a deadly combination.

Cramped, squalid conditions in the sprawling city camps are perfect breeding grounds but equally, it is very difficult to reach people in isolated rural areas, such as the north. And people who contract cholera can die within hours if untreated.

Mid-air scare

Vital aid supplies are packed into the cabin roof of the plane. Our original plan to fly to Cap Haitien airport, was abandoned because it was shut following days of escalating anti-United Nations protests and violence.

Our 30-minute flight was going well but we suddenly hit bad weather and turbulence. The captain says we can’t land. At 10,000 feet he gives us three options. Fly back to Port-au-Prince, land in Cap Haitien or consider landing across the border in Santo Domingo.

I weigh all the options and 30 seconds later suggest we divert the ageing plane to Cap Haitien. I tell my anxious colleagues that it is just another few minutes. The Captain’s confident voice is a reassurance.

We battle through nasty weather and land safely. Clapping and cheering from the relieved team lasts for more than a full minute. We all shake the crew’s hands and hug each other.

Violence alert

Our team who were waiting for us at Ouanaminthe air strip divert their vehicles to Cap Haitien.

But outside the airport we spot a few local people gathering for demonstrations. Our head of security Alex, who is back in Port-au-Prince, tells us to stay inside the airport until he gets clearance from the UN that it is safe.

On the road from Cap Haitien to Fort Liberte we witness a few more election demonstrations. Haitians are warming up for the national election on 28 November. There is anxiety in the air.

A security update from Alex: "Four NGO Chilean nationals were attacked in Port-au-Prince". It is not good news and we carefully scan the road as we drive along, before finally arriving safely.

We meet with fellow aid workers and discuss contingency plans to continue work if there is a security shutdown. Time needs to be on our side in the fight against cholera, as every minute counts and time is ticking away.

Donations can be made through our Children in Crisis Fund.