It’s been two years since the devastating hurricane occurred in Haiti, but the Red Cross’ continual efforts have not stopped.
Recently, the Red Cross has begun the second phase of a country-wide cholera vaccine. Cholera, an infection that affects the small intestine, occurs in countries with poor sanitation, crowding, war and famine. People contract the infection by eating or drinking contaminated food or water.
The program, which began in May, is aggressively fighting the new outbreak of cholera in Haiti. Supported by $1 million, the campaign seeks to vaccinate 100,000 people in rural and urban communities.
Under this vaccination program, the Red Cross provides care for those infected, ensures the availability of resources, supplies, and on-going education through this year’s hurricane season. Volunteers are also going into communities distributing soaps, oral rehydration salts and water purification tablets.
Without access to clean water, these efforts would be in vain so the Red Cross has spent $47 million to ensure access to clean water and improved sanitation. In addition to these efforts, the Red Cross has also provided financial support to Port-au-Prince’s first waste water treatment plant.
Haiti is a perfect example of the Red Cross’ continual efforts across the globe that help make this world a better place. For information on how else the Red Cross is helping in Haiti and other places in the world visit http://www.redcross.org/portal/site/en/menuitem.53fabf6cc033f17a2b1ecfbf43181aa0/?vgnextoid=183b9f4a01956210VgnVCM10000089f0870aRCRD
“The American Red Cross is doing an excellent job helping Haitians in the short and long term”