Emergency medical teams and other supplies and equipment will be prepared to help meet the most urgent health needs of those affected by the 7.2 magnitude quake
PORT AU PRINCE, HAITI — A team of experts from the Pan American Health Organization’s (PAHO) office in Port au Prince has been deployed to evaluate damage and coordinate an appropriate health response following the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that shook Haiti on the morning of Saturday, August 14.
The death toll in Haiti has climbed to just shy of 1,300, according to international reports.
Another 5,700 people were injured, with thousands displaced from damaged or destroyed homes.
PAHO Director Dr Carissa F Etienne said: “Our hearts go out to the people of Haiti on this truly sad day. Our team of experts is on the ground and stands ready to assist in all aspects of health response.”
The team from PAHO is supporting coordination of health response alongside Haiti’s Ministry of Health, UN agencies and other partners to assess immediate needs and ensure support is provided quickly and efficiently.
PAHO is also preparing several Emergency Medical Teams (EMTs), as well as medical supplies and other strategic equipment that can be deployed if needed. EMTs are teams of health professionals who provide direct clinical care to people affected by emergencies and disasters.
PAHO/WHO (World Health Organization) has activated incident management teams both at its country offices in Haiti and the Dominican Republic as well at its headquarters in Washington, DC, USA.
Experts are now concerned that the situation may escalate due to the increased risk of wind and rainfall that may be brought by Tropical Storm Grace.
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