Archive | December, 2010

Haiti Grassroots Watch: AyitiKaleJe (Video)

25 Dec

“We need a code of ethics with a national strategy”

(Video Credit: Ayiti Kale JE)

“For Dossier #4, Haiti Grassroots Watch took a look at cholera, water and sanitation“

Video Focus:

1. Why has cholera hit the country so hard?

2. What is the real situation of water and sanitation?

3. How did things get this way?”

“Haiti Grassroot Watch is a partnership whose goal is to look more deeply at Haiti’s reconstruction”

This video is an on the ground view of cholera that takes a look at some of the more complex issues that are associated with the cholera epidemic, such as access to clean water, the role of government and NGO’s.

In some cases patients with previous health conditions are not being treated. (According to this report) “Some infected people also have other conditions but some hospitals refuse them care.” Malnutrition, HIV/AIDS and other previous health conditions make it increasing difficult to fight against cholera. Pregnant woman battling cholera face greater health issues. More often than not infants are born prematurely or die during the pregnancy.

“A lot of NGOs are working on water and sanitation, but they aren’t coordinated, and they can’t replace the state”

“There are a lot of NGOs!”  This report suggest that the effort of various NGO’s working in Haiti would be more effective if those efforts were being coordinated or monitored in someway. Their are too many NGO’s in Haiti, and some are believed to be doing “superficial, almost ‘folkloric’ projects.”

“We need a code of ethics with a national strategy”

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News Update: Cholera numbers

19 Dec Source: msnbc.com

Cholera in Haiti - news.nationalpost image

Death Toll: 2,535

Total Affected: 114,497

Hospitalized: 58,190

Recovered: 56,463

Location: Cholera has spread to all 10 provinces of Haiti, some cases have been reported in the Dominican Republic and Florida, USA

Artibonite has been most affected by the cholera outbreak, with 807

How it began:

It is believed that the epidemic began with an imported strain of the disease that could be traced back to UN peacekeepers from Nepal.

Source: msnbc.com

“The body of 7-year-old Kevin Francois, who according to his mother died of cholera in route to the hospital, lies in the street covered as a man, pulls the body of his father-in-law to the cemetery after he found him dead of cholera in the street near his home in Cap Haitian, Haiti, Friday, Nov. 19, 2010. Thousands of people have been hospitalized for cholera across Haiti with symptoms including serious diarrhea, vomiting and fever and at least 1,100 people have died.”

 

Articles:

Haiti Cholera toll passes 2,500

Haiti cholera investigation announced by United Nations

 

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News Update: Cholera in Haiti

13 Dec

Cholera Victims in Haiti (Photo Credit -- Getty via ABC News Radio)

Cases of Cholera have now been reported in every district of Haiti as well as in some areas of the Dominican Republic and Florida. The cholera outbreak in Haiti has infecting nearly 91,000 people claiming the lives of over 2,000, but will not be spread in DR or FL as both of these region s have better access to clean drinking water and medical facilities.

FIGURE 1. Reported number of new cases of cholera (N = 91,770), by hospitalization status --- Haiti, October 20--December 3, 2010* (Image Credit: CDC)

“Cholera is caused by a bacteria, Vibrio cholerae, which causes an infection of the intestine and produces a toxin that triggers watery diarrhea that can lead to dehydration and death. The disease has largely been eliminated in countries that have access to clean drinking water, but can spread rapidly in areas where people drink tainted water. An infected human can produce the bacteria in his feces for up to two weeks, even if they don’t show signs of illness.”

FIGURE 2. Cumulative number of cases of cholera reported overall* and date of first laboratory-confirmed case, by department and in Port-au-Prince†--- National Cholera Monitoring System, Haiti, December 3, 2010 (Image Credit: CDC)

“The cholera epidemic has spread rapidly not only because of the poor health infrastructure and water sanitation in Haiti, but also because of some stark biological realities. Haiti hasn’t seen cholera in at least a century, leaving the population without immunity to the disease.”

“As of December 3, a total of 91,770 cases had been reported nationwide, and 43,243 (47.1%) patients had been hospitalized (Figure 1). The largest number of cases (42,596 [46.4%]) were reported from Artibonite Department, which comprises approximately 16% of the Haiti population (2) and is the department where cases were first laboratory-confirmed (Figure 2).”

FIGURE 3. Rolling 7-day hospital case-fatality ratio* for Artibonite and all other departments --- Haiti, October 31--December 3, 2010 (Image Credit: CDC)

Resources:

Cholera in Haiti has spread to every part of the country, CDC reports

Update: Outbreak of Cholera — Haiti, 2010

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SpotLight: British Red Cross (Education + Sanitation in Haiti)

8 Dec

The BritishRedCross has a page on their website dedicated to the work they have been doing in response to the Haiti Earthquake of 2010.

Mangoes & Lemonade spotlights British Red Cross for their recent contributions to education and sanitation.

(Photo Credit: British Red Cross)

Education:

“The British Red Cross, in partnership with the Danish Red Cross, is supporting children in four communes in Les Cayes who are hosting people displaced by the earthquake.”

The Red Cross is paying the 2011 school fees for 8,000 children in Les Cayes, Haiti.  Les Cayes is a southern district of Haiti that was not directly affected by the earthquake but has been flooded with new families displaced by the disaster.

Read the article: Haiti: Red Cross pays school fees for 8,000 children

"British and Haitian Red Cross are working together to ensure that all residents in its camps are informed about cholera prevention and basic hygiene." (Photo Credit: British Red Cross)

 

Sanitation:

“The British Red Cross project in Delmas 19, Port-au-Prince, is helping a community where the earthquake destroyed houses and drainage canals, rubble still blocks roads and alleyways and broken pipes spout water across the area.”

Haiti is in need of proper public sanitation and waste management.

“The sanitation facilities there were almost non-existent before the quake, and the destruction of what little there was has meant residents have turned to using broken pipes for washing and for their water supply, using open canals as toilets and rubbish dumps.”

With the outbreak of cholera in Haiti, poor sanitation conditions like this present an even greater danger. It truly is a matter of life and death.

Photo Credit: British Red Cross

The community involvement on this project is admirable. It is nice to see the people included in projects that are designed to uplift their community.  This is a challenging task that will yield positive results, for the residents of Delmas 19.

“It is not only about providing alternative solutions to rubbish dumping, but also about changing mindsets. This is particularly important at a time when cholera is spreading across the city, and areas with little sanitation infrastructure are likely to be badly affected. Red Cross hygiene promotion volunteers are touring Delmas 19 spreading messages both about cholera prevention and safe and healthy waste disposal.”

Read the article: Haiti: volunteers clear canals and fight cholera

Learn More about  What the British Red Cross is doing in Haiti and how to Get Involved!

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