Relief Teams Continue to Serve Haiti
When Hurricane Matthew swept across the Caribbean in early October, it caused huge devastation across Haiti – particularly in the south of the country. Around 2.1 million people were affected, with 1.4 million people needing humanitarian assistance of whom more than 800,000 required urgent food assistance. The Salvation Army in Haiti reacted quickly, providing cooked meals for several days for 800 people in emergency shelters. The Army also provided rice, beans, oil and corn to approximately 4,000 people.
The hurricane was followed by another disaster – a cholera outbreak that has already spread to more than 5,800 people. A massive vaccination operation is under way, with the Ministry of Health seeking partners for a cholera prevention program.
The Salvation Army's Bethel clinic in Font-des-Negres is ideally positioned for such a task, having gained experience during the last cholera outbreak. Staff members at the clinic are currently working on an extensive community awareness program, which involves training 30 community health workers who will work in 60 different locations. Part of their responsibilities will be to share information and instruction regarding hygiene, cleaning and how to deal with any suspected cholera case. Prevention kits will be distributed to 2,500 of the most vulnerable households. The next phase will be to construct and operate a cholera treatment unit to safely look after any cholera patients in the area.
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