Samaritan's Purse responds to Haiti cholera outbreak
Samaritan's Purse has responded to the cholera outbreak in Haiti with medical, water, sanitation, and hygiene teams on the ground in the Artibonite region of Haiti, where more than 300 people have died as a result of the outbreak.
Nearly 4,500 people have been hospitalised as a result of the outbreak, which could be compounded by the arrival of Hurrican Tomas on the shores of Haiti.
“It isn’t over until it’s over,” said Wood. “It’s tempting to think that it’s over and to rejoice in that. However, the coming rain will prepare an environment for reentry into certain areas. The good thing is that the international community’s efforts at treatment and education have really helped.”Cholera is an acute diarrheal disease that can also cause severe vomiting and leg cramps. It is caused by the ingestion of food or water contaminated with a specific bacteria, and it can kill within hours after symptoms begin. Incubation can take anywhere between two hours and five days. Up to 80% of cases can be successfully treated if victims receive proper care quickly.
Read what Samaritan's Purse field worker, Roseann Dennery, had to say as part of a BBC News story.
How Samaritan's Purse has responded:- The rehydration center in Villard served 38 patients on Thursday. Although the number of cases has decreased, there was a higher percentage of patients in critical condition. Our team reported that at least five people would have died if they had not received IV treatment. One child under five years old was transported to the local hospital.
- Medical teams were dispatched to orphanages to provide primary care and any other necessary treatment on Friday.
- As of yesterday, six community water filters had been installed – four in Arcahaie and two in Villard.
- Our health and hygiene teams continue to respond to multiple requests for assistance from local authorities and schools. They distributed 10,000 pamphlets on cholera prevention on Thursday. “They grab our cholera education handouts, run to copiers, and make more for family and friends,” said one team member.
- We are continuing to broadcast prevention messages using vans equipped with public address systems. A local celebrity is providing the voiceovers for this messaging which has been a great attention-getter.
- 1,602 Hygiene Kits
- 3,632 Bags of IV Solution
- 3,744 IV Kits
- 144,480 Water Purification Sachets
- 1,064 Water Purification Kits
- 6 Community Water Filters
- 6 Water Bladders
- 20 Garden Sprayers to be used for decontamination
- 2,304 Jerry Cans
- 1,000 Bars of Soap
WAYS YOU CAN HELP
PRAY:
For those who are already sick, that they would receive the care they need.
For the medical personnel treating patients at overwhelmed hospitals.
That the outbreak will be contained and not affected by the coming storms.
For our team's health and safety as they work in the affected area.
GIVE:
Make a donation towards our Emergency Relief fund, and help us respond to emergencies in places like Haiti and other parts of the world.
