This archive report was first published on 6 June 2020.
COVID-19 Crisis in Haiti ¶
Despite having the necessary resources to combat the coronavirus, Haiti is struggling to contain the outbreak due to widespread skepticism and misinformation.
According to Dr. Erneau Mondesir, a medical director at a hospital in Cite Soleil, many Haitians refuse to believe that the virus exists or that they are susceptible to it.
"The illness is real. Many of our citizens are experiencing respiratory symptoms and other tell-tale signs," Dr. Mondesir said.
However, many residents are relying on tea-based home remedies instead of seeking medical attention, which has led to a significant number of deaths.
Published on June 6, 2020, the latest data shows that there have been 50 virus-related deaths in Haiti, out of 2,640 confirmed cases.
Despite the national crisis management committee acknowledging that the real figures are higher, given the relatively small number of tests conducted so far, many residents remain skeptical.
"If we can't limit the spread of this pathogen now, we can at least try to limit the damage," Dr. Mondesir said.
Jonel Cadet, a 25-year-old who contracted COVID-19 after a motorcycle accident, initially refused to believe the virus existed but eventually sought treatment at a hospital in Cite Soleil.
"I didn't believe it, and I even said the president was talking nonsense," Cadet said with a laugh.
"It was only by coming here that I really started to believe, because I saw people who were much worse off."
