EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO CHOLERA EPIDEMIC IN HAITI
Friday, December 3, 2010 at 10:55AM 
SERVE work with the Redemptorists and Our Little Brothers and Sisters (NPFS) in Haiti. Together we are responding to the cholera epidemic in Haiti.
NPFS are working in the Artibonite River area to provide emergency life saving assistance to adults and children with cholera. They have established an emergency field hospital called “St. Philimena’s Hospital”. The facility is made up of 16 huge tents with the capacity of 17 beds each with a water system, laundry, logistics, beds, electricity, a chartering system, simple meals service achieving a 130 bed field hospital. It is intended to increase the capacity from 130 beds to 250 beds. For dehydration NPFS are using Gatorade and pedialyte, and for healthcare, IV fluids and catheters, IV poles, sheets, etc. NPFS also provided IV catheters that can be placed directly into the bone, which is dramatically increasing the chances of saving people’s lives as many are so dehydrated that it can be impossible to find a vein. NPFS is also training other partners to use these catheters. To date 400 people have received treatment at this hospital, and it is estimated that 60% of these patients would have died without treatment.
At its own paediatric hospital in Port-au-Prince, NPFS is ensuring that there are proper water filters in place and are preserving the inside of the hospital from contamination so that maternity, cancer care, surgery and other programmes are not negatively affected by the cholera epidemic. This has been rigorously enforced and has meant that with specially cordoned off areas St. Damian’s is prepared to treat up to 400 children for cholera should the epidemic increase in Port-au-prince. St Damian’s has also worked with two partner hospitals to enforce a similar programme and they have the capacity to care for up to 200+ adults.
NPFS are also continuing to distribute rice to vulnerable people who are dependent on emergency food support. NPFS have distributed 5000 bags of rice since early November to people affected by the cholera epidemic.
A total of €30,000 has been provided to NPFS to continue this work. SERVE have committed €15,000 and which has been matched by Misean Cara through its Emergency Funding stream.
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