By Léa Khayata
The epidemic of cholera in Haiti, declared “a matter of national security” by health officials, has spread to the Dominican Republic. The epidemic accounts for more than 1,100 deaths and 18,400 hospitalizations, and Haitian officials say it has not yet reached its peak. A doctor with the Pan-American Health association said projections show the number of infections could reach 200,000 over the next year, in the worst-case scenario.
In Brooklyn, which has one of the largest Haitian communities in the United States, it is once again a time for fear and mourning from afar.
“It is a scary situation right now,” says Reverend Saint Charles Borno, a Haitian pastor at St. Teresa of Avila Church in Clinton Hill. “Anyone can spread the disease to another part of the country and there is no infrastructure to take care of the people.” Since last year’s earthquake that devastated the capital of Port au Prince as well as many other cities, Haiti has been struck by new twin disasters of Hurricane Tomas, which flooded part of the island and the accompanying cholera epidemic.
Last Saturday, Father Saint Charles was sitting with the parishioners in the back of the church. Even if the Haitian people have to go through hard times, Father Saint Charles says, they never lose hope. “It’s amazing that I haven’t received a question about God. Haitian people take this within their faith, there is no question that God might be punishing them.”
But after seeing a string of catastrophes, with the situation getting worse each time, frustration is on the rise, according to Father Victor, who preaches at St. Matthew’s Church in Flatbush. “People don’t see that anything is happening in Haiti,” he said, “The situation seems indeed to be stuck, with a government struggling to take action and get organized. Prayer is the first thing to deal with that frustration, but prayer must be backed with action.”
Father Saint Charles is collecting money to send water supplies to a school in the outskirts of Port-au-Prince, so children won’t have to drink tap water, the main source of transmission of cholera. “We must do the first step and God will do the rest. Haitians here have a responsibility to help and protect people in Haiti.”
Relief can also reside in the smallest things. “Waking up every morning, being healthy, being able to speak and take care of your family is a blessing,” he said. “Haitian people have to continue to live despite all their troubles. They’re the one to help their family in Haiti to stay strong.”
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