PWRDF Responds to Cholera Outbreak in Haiti

Thousands of Haitians have become infected with cholera in the last two weeks, and over 250 died from the outbreak.  While new infections have slowed, there is still a chance that the disease could spread to tens of thousands of people there.

Cholera is a disease which is spread through contaminated food or water, and is most easily spread by lack of access to clean drinking water and proper sanitation.  The January 12 earthquake has meant that 1.3 million Haitians have been displaced- living in over 1300 different sites.  In these sites, ensuring that water is clean and that latrines are cleaned often enough can be difficult.  This has led to the current outbreak.

Since the quake, PWRDF has been working with the ACT Alliance- a global coalition of 103 churches and agencies engaged in development, humanitarian assistance, and advocacy- as well as the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti in relief and reconstruction efforts.

Since the cholera outbreak began, ACT has been working to provide chlorination equipment to ensure clean water, hygiene kits, and education about cholera and its prevention to over a hundred thousand people in Bel Air, Cite Soleil, Petion-Ville, and other communities.

PWRDF continues to work through our partners on providing the necessities of life to Haitians displaced by the quake, as well as on the construction of permanent housing, repairing schools, and other projects to re-build.