Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
License needed for work use Register

World Video | Defence | Foreign Affairs | Natural Events | Trade | NZ in World News | NZ National News Video | NZ Regional News | Search

 

Haiti: Cholera Prevention Efforts Intensifying

Save the Children is intensifying its efforts to prevent additional cholera infections and treat cases in Haiti.

November 17, 2010 — The government of Haiti has confirmed more than 16,700 cholera cases in seven of the country’s 10 regional departments and the UN is predicting up to 200,000 cases of cholera, which would require an increase in services and the ability of all organisations to respond.

“Cholera is preventable and treatable. Ensuring a swift and effective response to decrease transmission of the disease and lower the rate of deaths is the highest priority,” said Gary Shaye, Save the Children’s country director in Haiti.

“Save the Children and other humanitarian organisations have mobilized since the beginning of this outbreak to support the government of Haiti’s preparations for the worst-case scenario of a nationwide epidemic. We have built cholera treatment units as well as proper water and sanitation facilities, and we are working on critical prevention programs to assist children and families during this additional and unwelcome disaster. ”

Save the Children has set up cholera treatment units in the capital, Port-au-Prince, and has provided IV fluids, oral-rehydration salts and antibiotics to its health teams in other programme areas.

Ten thousand hygiene kits and more than 19,000 bars of soap have been distributed as well as supplies including water-purification tablets and kitchen kits in Léogâne and Port-au-Prince.

Save the Children is working with parents’ committees, child-protection committees, teachers and children to help spread key messages on hygiene and prevention.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

In addition, Save the Children is working to ensure that families have access to clean water by distributing chlorinated water to schools, trucking water to camps and distributing chemicals for water treatment.

Save the Children is continuing its regular health programmes at clinics established for children and families affected by the earthquake in January and it has increased services to 24 hours a day in camps in Port-au-Prince.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
World Headlines

 
UN News: Aid Access Is Key Priority

Among the key issues facing diplomats is securing the release of a reported 199 Israeli hostages, seized during the Hamas raid. “History is watching,” says Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths. “This war was started by taking those hostages. Of course, there's a history between Palestinian people and the Israeli people, and I'm not denying any of that. But that act alone lit a fire, which can only be put out with the release of those hostages.” More


Save The Children: Four Earthquakes In a Week Leave Thousands Homeless

Families in western Afghanistan are reeling after a fourth earthquake hit Herat Province, crumbling buildings and forcing people to flee once again, with thousands now living in tents exposed to fierce winds and dust storms. The latest 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit 30 km outside of Herat on Sunday, shattering communities still reeling from strong and shallow aftershocks. More

UN News: Nowhere To Go In Gaza

UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said some 1.1M people would be expected to leave northern Gaza and that such a movement would be “impossible” without devastating humanitarian consequences and appeals for the order to be rescinded. The WHO joined the call for Israel to rescind the relocation order, which amounted to a “death sentence” for many. More


Access Now: Telecom Blackout In Gaza An Attack On Human Rights

By October 10, reports indicated that fixed-line internet, mobile data, SMS, telephone, and TV networks are all seriously compromised. With significant and increasing damage to the electrical grid, orders by the Israeli Ministry of Energy to stop supplying electricity and the last remaining power station now out of fuel, many are no longer able to charge devices that are essential to communicate and access information. More

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.