Former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson made a strong appeal last night to the Jamaican business sector to help make available drugs and equipment to Haiti in response to the current cholera crisis in that country.
Patterson, who is also the Special Representative of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) for Haiti, made his appeal while delivering the feature address at the 4th Annual Fundraising Dinner and Awards Ceremony of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Alliance at the Caymanas Golf Club.
According to a release from the Office of the CARICOM Special Advisor on Haiti,
Patterson’s appeal was made as part of his presentation “Charging Into The Future” which focused mainly on the role of MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises), in nation building. He congratulated the MSME Alliance for their achievements and pointed out the opportunities that existed for the grouping in Jamaica, Haiti and the wider CARICOM region.
Acknowledging that recovery and rebuilding effort in Haiti was slow, the Special Representative said that this was mainly due to the delayed arrival of funds pledged by the international community, uncertainty over the impending elections as well as the slow pace of the rebuilding programme. The situation in Haiti has been further complicated by the recent cholera outbreak, he said.
He warned that even with the best efforts of the UN and private non-governmental medical agencies like “Doctors Without Borders” the Cholera epidemic could get worse before it is brought under control. He added that conditions might be already worse than official figures indicate because health experts were yet to reach some remote areas.
The Special Representative reported that CARICOM‘s Bureau of the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD held an emergency session on Friday to map out the Community’s response to the epidemic. Arising from that meeting it was agreed that the Community would be providing medical supplies and equipment to combat the disease. CARICOM will also be making available Doctors and other Trained Health Personnel to fight the campaign in Haiti.
The former Prime Minister said that Jamaica would serve as a point of transshipment to channel the supplies and equipment to Haiti. He further appealed to health professionals who were able to do so, to volunteer their services.
