WORLD BANK SUPPORTS HAITI WITH $15 MILLION TO HELP STEM CHOLERA OUTBREAK
(The Daily Tell) - By Byron Butler
To help increase and improve Haiti's medical response to the cholera outbreak, the World Bank is extending a $15 million emergency grant to the country. Since October, cholera has claimed more than 3,000 lives in Haiti.
The funding is part of the bank's $479 million pledge to help rebuild the country after the effects of the earthquake. In an effort to stem cholera outbreaks, it will support public and non-public efforts to respond to emergency medical needs, including urgent care and treatment for affected groups. Additionally, the grant will help cover preventative community interventions.
"Key to the success of these efforts is the joint response to the emergency, involving not only agencies and [non-governmental organizations] but, especially, the Haitians themselves," said Alexandre Abrantes, World Bank special envoy to Haiti.
"The new grant will be used to contract experienced NGOs for immediate cholera response activities and strengthen the capacity of the government to respond to the epidemic," he added.
Preventative actions will include hygiene and food handling awareness campaigns in communities that are currently teaching the importance of using clean water and soap to children in order to prevent future outbreaks. The grant will also be used to offer assistance in improving Haiti's early warning response to outbreaks, monitoring incidents and medical waste management.
One year after the earthquake, Haiti is still feeling its effects, with displaced citizens continuing to live in temporary camps without clean water and sanitation. The Bank has thus far extended $11 million per month to protect displaced persons, feed infants, keep children in school, train teachers, support pregnant women and upgrade neighborhoods and communities.
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