Photo Credit: ADRA International

Haiti: Diseases Threaten IDP Camps, Sanitation Critical

Carrefour and Port-au-Prince/Haiti | 21.02.2010 | APD | ADRA

The possibility of an outbreak of deadly diseases in quake-affected Haiti is growing, making the need for clean water and basic sanitation even more critical, reported the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA).

The number of temporary shelters, already a staple in Haiti, has increased dramatically in the aftermath of the earthquake, resulting in internally displaced people (IDPs) clustering together in open spaces, creating IDP camps that have populations reaching into the tens of thousands.

"With so many people sleeping in the streets, and impromptu temporary camps, the threat of a possible epidemic increases daily," said Ulrick Beaussejour, sanitation coordinator for ADRA Haiti. "ADRA is providing appropriate access to clean water, and basic hygiene and sanitation facilities, to constantly improve the living environment for survivors."

On the campus of the Adventist University of Haiti, where an estimated 15,000 survivors are currently residing, ADRA has installed 60 bathing stations for personal hygiene and 80 latrines with hundreds more in process. Beneficiaries have also received training on how to keep latrines clean and operable, adding to the sustainability of the project.

ADRA is also running a trash collection campaign at the site of the IDP camp, implementing a cash–for-work program that utilizes local volunteers to clean up the campus grounds. The first phase of this project is funded by the Florida Adventist Community Services and the Florida Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, and will run for one month. Currently, ADRA expects to run the campaign for at least three months.

"Our biggest concerns, [for the temporary camp] are to control the spread of communicable diseases," said Sandra Golles, health coordinator for ADRA Haiti. "Providing adequate sanitation facilities and clean water is crucial in our effort to prevent the spread of waterborne diseases such as cholera and typhoid."

ADRA, through its partnership with Global Medic, has already distributed more than 4 million water purification tablets, which are used to prevent the use of contaminated water, for survivors, as well as oral rehydration salts, water bottles, and other water supplies. This is in addition to the 12 water points that ADRA has installed, providing clean water for approximately 55,000 Haitians.

Also, through the work of partners, such as ADRA Germany and ADRA Portugal, hundreds of thousands of survivors are also receiving access to clean water through the utilization of several water purification units, the largest of which can provide 17 gallons (or 64 liters) of water per minute.

In total, ADRA is reaching nearly 500,000 people a day with clean water.

Preventing diseases and creating a healthy population is critical to the long-term survival of the displaced communities. In collaboration with the U.S. Public Health Service, ADRA has launched a campaign that is providing free immunization for residents of the temporary camp. The campaign seeks to provide access to vaccinations that will protect adults against tetanus and diptheria, and prevent the spread of infectious diseases such as measles, rubella, diptheria, tetanus and pertussis, also known as whooping cough, among children. Vitamin A, which helps regulate the immune system, will also be available for children, and anti-parasitic medications.

ADRA Public Health nurses are implementing the immunization campaign, with the assistance of the U.S. Public Health Service, the U.S. Navy medical teams, as well as senior medical students for the University of Haiti, and U.S. Marines, who are providing security.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is providing necessary medical supplies, including vaccines, syringes, soap, cotton and other essentials.

To ensure the long-term health of residents, ADRA is also planning to provide residents with health care education, including personal hygiene, food safety, sexually transmitted diseases, such as HIV, and infant and child health, building the capacity of the local population to sustain ongoing health efforts as recovery efforts continue.

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