For most Americans, the threat of cholera is as remote as the threat of polio, tuberculosis or any other formerly catastrophic disease. If you live in Haiti, however, the story is different. More than 7,000 Haitians died from a recent cholera outbreak, and thousands more continue to fight this infection that literally starves the body’s cells of life-sustaining water.
The most common cause of cholera in Haiti is contaminated drinking water from polluted rivers or mountain streams. Regrettably, most Haitians still rely on these water sources for their daily needs. Which is why Haiti Outreach continues the work it began in 1997 to bring clean, safe water to the Haitian people.
Using three well drilling rigs and a community-based well ownership and maintenance system, Haiti Outreach has already helped bring clean, available water to more than 150,000 people. In addition, and with the help of thousands of donors and volunteers, Haiti Outreach has helped rebuild municipal water systems and repair wells damaged by hurricanes. Most recently, Haiti Outreach participated in World Water Day, raising enough money to secure the building of two more wells. And, more wells means less threat of waterborne diseases such as cholera.
We wish to thank everyone who has helped make this important work possible, and we ask you to consider supporting Haiti Outreach again in the future. Together, we can move cholera in Haiti from the headlines to the history books.
Photo ©Haiti Outreach 2012
