2010 Haiti Earthquake Effect

Running head: EARTHQUAKE IN HAITI
Earthquake in Haiti
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

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EARTHQUAKE IN HAITI
Introduction
Hispaniola Island shared by Haiti is quite seismically active having a history of
earthquakes being the poorest country. Haiti is struck by natural disasters, especially earthquakes
and economically unstable. On 12th January, 2010 at 4:53 p.m. 7.0 Mw magnitude earthquakes
struck approximately 25 km at a depth of 13 km from Port-au-Prince. There was tremendous loss
of lives, property and shortage of medical care and supplies at the capital. Everyone pleaded for
donations, aids, testimonials and images were circulated after earthquake and social media in
response to global engagement. Therefore, the following discussion involves the early responses
to Haiti earthquake, barriers to receiving health care services and role of nurses related to global
event.
Local and national responses
After the earthquake, there were unclear roles of the states; however immediate responses
of local people, volunteers and aids were provided to affected population in the form of health,
shelter and food. Moreover, medical care and service relocations were provided to Haitian
earthquake victims. Haitian government gave immediate responses in rescuing survivors by
conducting search operations. The communication was properly set for the better functioning and
coordination response efforts.
The first response was provided by Doctors Without Borders/ Médecins Sans Frontières
(MSF) immediately early hours of 13th January morning. The team members took quick and
effective responsive decisions about supplies and delivering extra staffs and healthcare
professionals to the causalities. Surgical team was prepared maintaining surgery and shelter
materials rigging new facilities in the damaged hospitals (Kirsch, Sauer & Sapir, 2012).

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EARTHQUAKE IN HAITI
After 48 hours, human suffering increased where first aid was provided by international
community assisted and provided quick response to the earthquake. The Dominian Republic was
the first country who provided aid to Haiti, lifted heavy machinery, sent water and food to the
victims. Along with surgeons and 36 doctors, Dominican Republic sent eight mobile medical
units to Haiti. However, due to damage caused to key government buildings and members being
missing or trapped, the immediate relief efforts lacked leadership. Boston provided emergency
coordination meetings where they discussed about airlifting victims and sending health supplies
(food), local health workers and volunteers to Haiti. It was an international emergency situation
that has impacted local population being responsive to behavioral health and needs of the
casualties. Real Medical Foundation provided medical staffing, strategic coordination and
medical supplies to the health crisis in Haiti (Goggins, Mascaro & Mascaro, 2012).
Social attitudes and issues of race, gender
Haiti is a fragile country and social unrest increased after the 2010 earthquake further
weakening the institutions in the country. Social factors like gender inequalities rendering to the
demographics of Haiti population experiencing severe human suffering form. The high levels of
poverty and weak governance were some of the contributing factors for the mass infrastructure
destruction and wide-scale destruction (Van de Walle & Dugdale, 2012). These conditions
impacted the impeding responses and reconstruction efforts after the earthquake in Haiti. The
victims were represented as evil, backward and poor in need for an intermediary help portraying
Haiti as a failed state in the Western Hemisphere. The framing illustrated Haiti government as
inept being politically unstable, corrupted, violent having multitude of chaotic problems. Media
projected earthquake victims as ‘objects of pity’ that influenced the hegemonic response
discourse put forth for earthquake response. This portrayal has shown to have unprecedented