TORONTO, Oct. 25 /CNW/ - Aid workers for one of the oldest and largest children's organizations, Plan International, are scaling up their work to help bring a deadly cholera outbreak in Haiti under control. The first outbreak in the country for 50 years has so far claimed more than 250 lives and infected 3,000 people and a handful of cases have now reached the capital, Port-au-Prince.
Plan is providing treatment kits that include soap and rehydration salts to families in camps set up as shelters after January's devastating quake. It is responsible for health in a camp housing some 11,000 people in the Croix de Bouquets district of the capital.
Cases originated in Artibonite, central Haiti, before spreading to Port-au-Prince, say health experts. Sanitation, clean water and public awareness are now priorities in attempts to contain the outbreak.
"There is a lot of travel between the Upper Artibonite and the Northeast," says Plan spokesperson Kristie van de Wetering, in Port-au-Prince. "Market vendors travel from the Artibonite to the Dominican Republic to buy fruit and vegetables which could potentially increase the spread of contamination," said Ms van de Wetering.
Twelve cholera treatment centres are being built and public information campaigns launched.
"Since the disease is largely unknown in Haiti, resistance of the local population is low and the health sector is not used to coping with this form of outbreak," said Dr. Tanjina Mirza, VP International Programs for Plan Canada. "Cholera is transmitted when people share contaminated food and water. Education and awareness, in addition to soap and water purification and rehydration salts, are essential to slow the spread."
Plan has launched a US$500,000 appeal to help protect families living in camps in Croix des Bouquets. This will include cholera treatment kits with soap, water purification and rehydration salts. Plan's teams have begun a series of health and hygiene awareness raising activities - spreading the word about how to spot signs of the disease, prevent and contain it at camps in the southern coastal town of Jacmel.
Plan Canada is directing existing Haiti relief funds to the effort. Due to the severity of the outbreak, we are also calling for additional support and resources. To donate, please go to plancanada.ca or call 1 800 609 3142.
For further information:
or to speak to a Plan spokesperson contact:
Kristy Payne
Plan Canada
416 920 1654 ext 211
[email protected]
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