Haiti Cholera Outbreak: How You Can Help

In Haiti, a country still reeling from January's devastating earthquake, the combination of a lack of infrastructure and overwhelming poverty have left the area ripe for disease.

These worries came to fruition when a deadly outbreak of cholera swept through rural Haiti over the weekend, killing over 250 people and leaving thousands sick.

Officials are reporting the epidemic may not be as terrible as previously anticipated, but it remains a crucial moment for aid workers rushing to save lives and keep the disease from spreading to Port-au-Prince's tent slums.

If the cholera outbreak were to reach the makeshift camps, where over 1 million homeless Haitians live, the outcome could be catastrophic. Thus far, government and nonprofit workers have managed to keep the disease from spreading beyond the Haitian countryside.

Relief organization Doctors Without Borders is on the ground in Haiti, treating cholera patients at St. Nicholas Hospital.

Donors can contribute online to support Doctors Without Borders' work bringing life-saving medical aid to Haitians with cholera.

Partners In Health is also helping Haitian cholera victims get access to medical care and clean water.

Supporters can donate online to help Partners In Health save lives and prevent the spread of the cholera epidemic.

Save the Children, an organization that has 800 workers in Haiti, is focusing on treating cholera among the most vulnerable Haitians -- the country's children.

Individuals can take action to help Haitian children by making an online donation or participating in other fundraising opportunities.

Comments

[Gregory D Mellott]

02:00 AM on 11/23/2010

I wonder if they are spraying around iodine. Admittedly there are some people that have allergic reaction to iodine. Yet I suspect that it is rare and a much more managable situation than cholera.

In very bad areas they even may consider diluted copper sulfate. It kills bacteria in the part per billion range and is commonly used in resevoirs used for domestic water.

[Godiswhatyoubelievein]

10:52 AM on 10/28/2010

to have the ability to see this through media , INTERNET ,satellite image transmitting does not add up with images of people still dying of cholera.
are we (time travelers)? or we just left some behind us

[namewithheld]

08:15 PM on 10/26/2010

Well, I hope Bill Clinton has more success on the campaign trail than he has had trying to make up for anallyraping these people when he was president.

[OliverTwist]

03:12 PM on 10/26/2010

Lets make charity contributions the basis for support for the military and for our wars.

I'm sure we could top entertainers and others to put on shows for war.

Lets make tax levies the basis for our support for the people of Haiti.

It's the only way to be sure.

We need to get our priorities straight.

[Hellooo]

02:56 PM on 10/26/2010

Tell Tom Coburn to let the money go!!!! We need to stop paying for things we never receive. The Haitians never got the first money. Poor and Black New Orleanians never got the money.

[Billy Jack]

02:56 PM on 10/26/2010

What would help is if the Haitian people got rid of their thieving president

[pep1]

02:24 PM on 10/26/2010

Haiti will need a lot of help for a very long time... there was practically no infrastructure there and now there is next to none. People have to have a few things...a living space, clean water, food, and a job. The whole country needs to be rebuilt.

Human beings do not deserve this.

[cloudmaker]

01:52 PM on 10/26/2010

We'd love to donate money to help the Haitians. Pity it always gets misdirected, mishandled and just plain missing.

[boscobear]

01:47 PM on 10/26/2010

Where is all the money that was given because of the earthquake? It doesn't look like much was spent helping the people's living conditions. When people are made to live in these conditions, it's no wonder this happens.

[RichardWalden]

01:44 PM on 10/26/2010

Operation USA is also helping fight the cholera outbreak focusing on water purification and medical supplies. www.opusa.org or 1-800 678 7255

[one1byke]

01:11 PM on 10/26/2010

"Thus far, government and nonprofit workers have managed to keep the disease from spreading beyond the Haitian countryside."

Which Haitian am I helping? House or Field Haitian?

[ChiBloger]

01:06 PM on 10/26/2010

I just did it. I just contributed to Doctors without borders. Tom Coburn is an MD a senator and a devil. He has been holding up the money to Haiti we promised. I encourage all to help in this small way. This is the difference between a real Christian and Tom Coburn.

[drbslurp]

01:38 PM on 10/26/2010

He wants to know where the billion they already got went before we send them more. That's someone using intelligence instead of whiny liberal emotion.

[Hellooo]

02:59 PM on 10/26/2010

He knows where the billiion is. He is keeping it on hold. When we lose interest, it will make itself into some "business account" maybe a little to Hallliburton and a lot to Xe to quelle the Haiti revolt.

[merlinspinoza]

01:03 PM on 10/26/2010

what can i do ? merlinSpin-oza says, the vatican is running haiti [ i.e. the mainstream orthodox status quo]

cedar leaf oil kills cholera [ used under supervision of master herbalists etc ]

tons of money is needed for flushless composting toilets and/or biodigester biomass generators for " upcycling " waste into compost and methane fuel ; natural regenerative systems

who brung the consciousness

but like i said the vatican is in charge and appears to be leading in some House seats

[Dustee]

01:00 PM on 10/26/2010

So, what's happening to the money that DeMint is holding up from the earth quake.

[Nicole Dixson]

02:38 AM on 10/26/2010

They haven't even gotten most of the earthquake money yet. Why should people donate if the money is not funneled down quickly? What good is money if it is not used for the right purpose and in the right way?

[Diplomacy]

07:33 AM on 10/26/2010

Don't become discouraged. Haiti is going to need money from donors for a long time to come, unfortunately this is only the beginning of a very long road to reconstruction.

The devastation there is something the average person really can't even fathom.

If you can't donate, then consider volunteering for one of these organizations. "Doctors Without Borders" / "Medicins Sans Frontiers" is on the ground there in a very BIG way and their money does get to the people.

[valeskas]

08:56 AM on 10/26/2010

I agree with youy, send that money which was promised to them and leave us alone.

[ChiBloger]

01:08 PM on 10/26/2010

Who is us? Us is the people who promised the money. Us and Tom Coburn are the ones not delivering. The doctors are there right now as well as the need.