Haven

http://www.havenpartnership.com/Article.php?Article=Cholera-Appeal

21 May 2010

Haven's Cholera Appeal
News update:

The Ministry of Health reports 1,039 dead and 16,799 hospitalised cases of cholera.
30 cholera treatment centres with a bed capacity of at least 1,600 beds have been established. 9 CTCs are operating in Port-au-Prince.
Violence in Cap Haitian has affected humanitarian response causing WASH partners to suspend activities and the UN to cancel flights carrying supplies.

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The number of people affected by the cholera epidemic is growing rapidly.

It is estimated that the case count is close to 40,000 based on the level of under-reporting and rural transmission occurring in areas not being serviced by responders.

The Health Cluster has established Cholera Treatment Centers for key sites. However, rural transmission continues in areas distant from these centers.

Since the start of the outbreak, PAHO has distributed over 3,500 liters of IV fluids, more than 64,000 sachets of oral rehydration salts, and more than 180,000 antibiotic tablets to treat patients suffering from the disease.

Hurricane Tomas passed immediately west of Haiti on Friday, bringing hurricane-force winds and several inches of rain to a country where more than 1.3 million remain without permanent shelter since January's devastating earthquake.

Though Tomas did not do as much damage as was feared, Haitian officials report the storm left six dead, two missing, and 18,250 displaced. Areas hardest-hit by the storm include Artibonite, Nord-Ouest, Grande Anse, Léôgane and Carrefour.

Haven Response

Haven is carrying out preventative work with the local beneficiaries in Gonaives to contain and prevent the further spread of the disease.

Our Hygiene Promotion Team from Port au Prince are holding Hygiene Promotion Workshops in Gonaives, teaching people about good hygiene practice, and distributing Oral Rehydration Solutions to all beneficiaries.

Haven is in the process of assessing the best response to the Cholera epidemic for beneficiaries in Port Au Price. This will entail preventative and precautionary measures coordinated with trained community mobilisers and Haven hygiene promotion staff.

Haven has launched a cholera appeal. Funds are badly needed for the purchase of hygiene kits, and to spread the reach of our hygiene promotion teams. Unless Haven is equipped with the required resources, the Cholera will continue to spread.

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Earthquake Appeal

On January 12th, 2010, an earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale, struck Haiti. Approximately 230,000 people lost their lives, of them 40,000 were children. 1.3 million people were left homeless.

As part of the Emergency Response Haven signed up to the Water and Sanitation (WASH) Cluster, and the Shelter Cluster.

Emergency Response in brief:

7,000 tarpaulins distributed to camps
20 Community Shelters complete

1,300 latrines in 57 camps complete benefitting 80,000 beneficiaries

320 showers complete

WASH in schools programmes underway in 15 schools

600 transitional shelters underway

Shelter Cluster

Those displaced by the quake gathered together in camps, often in dangerous or unsuitable locations. Shelters were constructed relying on materials such as scrap metal, wood or simply cotton bedsheets.

Haven distributed over 7,000 tarpaulins to those affected by the earthquake in Port au Prince, having a direct impact on approximately 42,000 people.

We have also completed 20 Community Shelters in settlements across Port au Prince. These are approximately 42 square meters in size. How they are used is decided by the community, many are now acting as a classroom, meeting place, church or an area for convalescents.

A Transitional Shelter programme is in progress in two parts of Port au Prince. In Croix de Bouquet, Haven will build 100 shelters in conjunction with Plan International, and in Delmas, 500 shelters will be constructed on behalf of the Red Cross.

WASH Cluster

The temporary camps around Port au Prince have little in the way of sanitation or clean water and there are fears that disease will spread quickly, especially during the wet season.

The WASH Cluster aims to build an initial 11,000 latrines, providing 1 latrine for every 100 people. This ratio will gradually increase over the year, so that eventually there is 1 latrine for every 20 people.

Haven is working in over 57 of the 600 informal camps across Port Au Prince, providing sanitation facilities to over 80,000 beneficiaries.
Haven is the second biggest provider of latrines to those displace in the capital.

The Haven Hygiene Promotion team ensure that the latrines are kept clean, and teach the people living in the campsites of the importance
of hygiene while living in such basic and wet conditions.

Haven and UNICEF

Haven has also been confirmed as the first NGO to partner with UNICEF in their ‘WASH in Schools’ programme. We are providing water and sanitation and conducting hygiene promotion programmes in 15 schools across the capital city.

As part of our work with UNICEF we have also built 320 showers and are removing solid waste through cash for work programmes from all camps.

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