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Shortages of electricity, fuel, medicines and medical supplies are severely disrupting emergency services, blood banks, laboratories, immunization programs and maternal and child health services, Edem Wosornu of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha) and Altaf Musani of the World Health Organization (WHO) to reporters in New York via video link.
Their briefing came after a three-day visit to the island nation.
Surgery and treatment are delayed
Officials described the healthcare system as under increasing pressure as hospitals struggled to maintain basic services amid worsening supply shortages and power outages. In some areas, The power outage lasted up to 20 hours has forced hospitals to halt non-emergency operations, while fuel shortages continue to limit ambulance services and delay access to critical care.
More than 100,000 patients, including 11,000 children, are waiting for operations delayed by power outages and supply shortages..
About five million people living with chronic diseases are also at risk of interruption of life-sustaining treatment, including more than 16,000 people who require radiation therapy and more than 12,000 people who are undergoing chemotherapy.
“Human losses are enormous and continue to increase,Musani said, as local clinics struggled with a lack of medical supplies and unstable electricity.
Pregnant women, children are at risk
Maternal and newborn services have also been greatly impacted.
More than 32,000 pregnant women face increased risk due to limited access to diagnostics, transportation and stable electricity needed to power life-saving equipment in neonatal units.
“Staff had to carry water up the stairs while the woman gave birth because the pump didn’t work,said Ms. Wosornu.
He added that transportation disruptions hampered the delivery of vegetables and meat, leaving many pregnant women without adequate nutrition.
The risk of disease increases amid power outages
Water, sanitation and cooling systems also face disruption, increasing the risk of vector-borne and water-borne diseases, such as dengue fever and chikungunya.
Routine immunization programs continue to run but are under increasing pressure due to cold chain disruptions, transportation limitations and supply shortages.
Ms Wosornu described the situation as an increasingly complex crisis with growing humanitarian consequences beyond the usual natural disaster response.
Call for urgent support
Despite worsening conditions, OCHA and WHO officials praised the resilience of health care workers and local communities, and noted that doctors and nurses continued to care for patients despite health worker shortages and difficult working conditions.
“Life-saving aid must reach the community without delay. Acting quickly and working together is the only way to stop the situation from getting worse. We cannot afford another humanitarian crisis,Mrs. Wosornu said.
