Treating Cholera – Gonzales’ (12) Story
When World Vision staff first met 12-year-old Gonzales, he was lying on a bed in a Cholera Treatment Unit (CTU), an IV drip in his arm, looking miserable. “I feel sick”, he said. “I got a headache first, then a bellyache, then diarrhoea. I came here this morning. My mum made me come because she was worried about me. I wish I was playing soccer.”
Gonzales is one of nearly 500,000 people to have contracted cholera since the outbreak struck Haiti in October 2010. He is also one of thousands of people to have been treated by World Vision. Since the beginning of the epidemic, staff have been working rigorously to treat cholera patients and prevent new cases from occurring. As part of its cholera response, the organisation facilitated ORPs and CTUs in both Port-au-Prince and rural areas, and also operated a CTC, offering the highest level of non-hospital care for cholera patients.
“When CTUs were first beginning, we’d have 10, 12 patients. Not many. People didn’t know, or they didn’t want to come”, says Manol, a World Vision doctor working with cholera patients. “There was a certain stigma attached to cholera. Even when they did come, they wouldn’t say: “I think I have cholera.” Now people are more educated, and more people come.”
Gonzales is certainly knowledgeable on the subject. “I have cholera”, he told us. “I know how to prevent it. I know that we have to wash our hands, make sure our meal is well cooked. We need to drink potable water, and whenever you feel bad the first thing is to drink oral rehydration serum. I know this because of awareness campaigns, and at school I learn about it. But I was unlucky today.”
Gonzales needed to stay in the CTU for a few more hours, until he was properly rehydrated, but the nurses assured him he wouldn’t need to go to hospital overnight.
A few weeks later, staff paid a visit to Gonzales (red shirt) at home, in the small structure made of corrugated iron, plywood and tarps he shares with his mother, brother and sister. It was the second visit he’d had from World Vision since he was in the CTU. As in all cholera cases treated at World Vision facilities, workers had been there to disinfect his home shortly after he was released, and to make sure he was doing okay.
Gonzales was a picture of health as he ran inside to greet his visitors. “I’ve been playing soccer”, he said, panting and wiping sweat from his brow. “I haven’t been sick again. I’ve been feeling good since I went to the CTU.”
“I am really grateful to the staff at the CTU”, his mother, Nevanie, said. “We can’t afford to go to the doctor. It was good that I knew the CTU was there. I’m so happy he is okay”, she said, putting her arm around Gonzales.
“The people at the CTU do a good job, I think”, said Gonzales. “Life is hard for all of us here in the camp; we’re very vulnerable. So I’m happy that they’re able to look after us.”
Read our report:
Two Years On - Haiti Earthquake Response
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