The Canadian Red Cross has deployed its Emergency Health Clinic in a joint effort with the French Red Cross, to help support several communities in Haiti affected by Hurricane Matthew. The Emergency Health Clinic team will work in cooperation with the Haitian Ministry of Health and the Haitian Red Cross.

Health services will be provided through a mobile clinic, bringing care to hard-to-reach communities where health posts have been damaged or destroyed. The mobile clinic will provide : treatment of minor trauma and wounds ; targeted tetanus immunization ; basic prenatal care ; treatment of common infections in adults and children including cholera and malaria and treatment of chronic diseases.

The mobile clinic will also be used to carry out prevention activities to decrease the risk of cholera transmission and monitor for outbreaks.

"Hurricane Matthew is estimated to have affected more than 2.1 million Haitians, and has displaced 175,000 people. The needs are tremendous," said Hossam Elsharkawi, Vice President of International Operations for the Canadian Red Cross. "The strength of the Red Cross is our combination of community-based and global support. Working closely with the Haitian Ministry of Health and the Haitian Red Cross, the deployment of the Canadian Red Cross Emergency Clinic will help to address the urgent health care needs of those affected by Hurricane Matthew."

A team of nine trained and experienced aid workers from Canada will help set up and run the mobile clinic. The team will bring a variety of skills and experience, including medical and nursing expertise and psychosocial support.

HL/ HaitiLibre