Cholera Outbreak in Haiti
I thought Haiti hit rock bottom after witnessing firsthand the aftermath of the massive earthquake that destroyed Port-au-Prince and its surroundings killing over a quarter of a million people. I was wrong. Haiti has reached a new low with the cholera epidemic. This outbreak just added to the weight of the heavy burden the Haitian people have been carrying over a long period of time. People are hospitalized and dying with cholera, while Port-au-Prince still lays in ruin with million living in tent encampments.
According to official sources and local newspapers, the current cholera outbreak started in mid October this year and has since claimed the lives of 1,648 people. However, an eyewitness who visited Haiti recently as a member of a medical mission reported the disease must have killed close to 1,000 people in the city of Gros-Morne (Artibonite) alone. As of November 24, 2010, the Ministère de la Sante Publique et de la Population (MSPP) also reported a total of 66,593 hospital visits, 27,933 hospitalizations at the national level. Cholera cases are now reported in all the ten departments of Haiti.
What is Cholera?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) Cholera is an acute diarrheal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. Every year, there are an estimated 3–5 million cholera cases and 100,000–120,000 deaths due to cholera. The short incubation period of two hours to five days, enhances the potentially explosive pattern of outbreaks.
What Doxa is doing?
Doxa is helping. We are in the process of sending monetary assistance to several households that have lost a family member due to the epidemic. We expect to reach close to 40 families in two of the hardest hit departments, Artibonite and Centre. We are targeting primarily the families impoverished by the lost of a bread winner or costly funeral expenses. We want to help them buy food and some basic necessities while they are figuring out a new way of survival. This effort will be fully coordinated through our national committee in Haiti to ensure every penny goes to the victims.
As the cholera epidemic is expected to grow much larger and the death toll will continue to rise, Doxa will remain committed to the assistance of the poorest, according to our means. You too can help by donating through an organization of your choice or through Doxa.
Voluntary contributions can be made through our website or payable to:
Doxa Foundation International, Inc.
12337 Wynnfield Lakes Dr
Apt 322
Jacksonville, FL 32246