Project

Changing Waters: Cholera Permeates Life in Haiti

In the summer of 2012, nearly two years after the outbreak of cholera in Haiti, the devastating illness remains a pervasive threat. When the disease first surged in October 2010, the bacteria affected not only waterways but also the daily lives and cultural psyche of Haitians. Cholera has claimed the lives of 7,000 Haitians. It also casts an ominous shadow across life-giving community water sources and taxes the limited resources of the government and health care providers.

Now, as the disease becomes endemic, the seasonal spikes of cases provide a backdrop to questions about how the country will respond. Historic distrust of UN peacekeeping forces has evolved into bitter blame. Allegations as to the UN's role in bringing cholera to Haiti dominate a Haitian court case against the world body. Aid agencies and government bodies scramble to confront the epidemic, but concerns have arisen that such services are only a quick fix for a problem that lies deep within Haiti’s water and sanitation infrastructure. Medically, treating cholera in an individual is relatively cheap and easy. But for the country as a whole the challenge is only getting more complicated.

A Home Run in Haiti

Two documentary filmmakers put pressure on the United Nations to accept the blame for Haiti's cholera outbreak—and they're doing it with a film about a young boy who loves baseball.

Haiti: Cholera on Paper

Don’t let the daily routine or closing of treatment centers fool you. Cholera is here to stay in Haiti, and people have the paper to prove it.

Facing Global Public Health Head On

At Boston University student fellowships for reporting help humanize diverse global public health issues, from discrimination toward gays in Kenya to child marriage in Nepal.

Haiti: Isaac Floods Tent Cities

In the aftermath of Tropical Storm Isaac, flooded tents and concerns about the spread of cholera show that Haiti is still vulnerable to natural disasters.