Samaritan's Purse appeals for Canadians' help in fighting Haiti's deadly
cholera epidemic

Donations and medical volunteers needed to combat disease that has killed almost 600 so far

CALGARY, Nov. 10 /CNW/ - Samaritan's Purse Canada is appealing for help in fighting the cholera outbreak in Haiti that experts are now calling a full-fledged epidemic - putting hundreds of thousands of Haitians at risk. So far, the disease has killed almost 600 people and hospitalized more than 9,000 in the hard-hit nation that endured a hurricane and flooding recently, and a devastating earthquake last January.

Samaritan's Purse is inviting Canadians to make financial contributions to enable the Christian relief and development organization to continue providing the medical aid Haitians so desperately need. Samaritan's Purse is also asking Christian doctors and nurses to volunteer for short terms with its medical teams in Haiti.

"We need Canadians' help in fighting a disease that can kill in hours, but that four out of five can survive if they receive treatment quickly," said Fred Weiss, Samaritan's Purse Canada's executive director. "We welcome any and all financial aid, and also ask for people's prayers."

Cholera is an acute diarrheal disease that can also cause severe vomiting and leg cramps. It results from ingesting food or water that is contaminated with a specific bacterum. The first diagnosed cases of cholera in Haiti were in relatively remote rural areas. But in recent days, the disease has begun showing up in heavily populated cities, including the capital of Port-au-Prince and in Cite Soleil. The World Health Organization says what was initially just an "outbreak" is now a much more serious "epidemic."

"This is a question of national security," Gabriel Thimote, Deputy Director for the Haitian Ministry of Health,warned during a news conference Wednesday in Haiti. He noted that the cholera-related death toll has risen to 583 so far, with 9,123 hospitalized.   Dr. Jon Andrus, Deputy Director of the Pan American Health Organization, said: "We have to prepare for a large upsurge in cases. We have to be prepared with all the resources that are needed for a rapid response."

Samaritan's Purse is treating patients - mainly by providing life-saving intravenous (IV) fluids to combat dehydration, but also by distributing IV kits, water purification kits, hygiene education kits, and other items. The organization is also teaching Haitian nurses to provide hygiene training and is promoting preventative hygiene through public address systems and wide-spread pamphlet distributions.

Canadians can support this relief and recovery work at 1-800-663-6500 or www.samaritanspurse.ca.

About Samaritan's Purse Canada
Samaritan's Purse Canada is an international Christian relief and development organization working in about 70 countries to provide aid to victims of war, disease, disaster, poverty, famine, and persecution. The Calgary-based charity also operates the well-known Operation Christmas Child program that sends gift-filled shoe boxes to needy children around the world each year, and the Turn on the Tap initiative that raises funds for life-saving BioSand Water Filters in the developing world. Go to www.samaritanspurse.ca for more information.

For further information:

Media Inquiries:
Jeff Adams - Communications Director, Samaritan's Purse Canada
1-800-663-6500 or 1- 403-615-8747 or [email protected]