World Concern launches program to distrbute cholera care kits in Haiti

World Concern staff members in Haiti are instructed about cholera prevention during a training in October.

In response to the rapid spread of cholera throughout Haiti, Shoreline-based, Christian humanitarian organization World Concern is launching an aggressive prevention and treatment program, with a goal of reaching more than 300,000 people.

Using churches and community health workers, World Concern is spreading information about how to prevent the spread of cholera and what to do if someone gets sick. Cholera is both preventable and treatable.

World Concern is distributing cholera care kits with soap, oral rehydration solution packets, and water containers for storing purified water.

With more than one million earthquake survivors living in tent communities throughout Port-au-Prince, World Concern health experts fear the worst is yet to come.

“The cholera epidemic continues its spread at a very frightening speed,” said Dr. Jean Monetoile Marseille, health programs coordinator for World Concern Haiti. The Pan American Health Organization estimates up to 200,000 people could be sickened before the outbreak is over.

World Concern is accepting donations to the Haiti cholera response at their website.  Each cholera care kit costs $6 per family.

“We can save lives if we act quickly. Our goal is to reach as many people as possible, as quickly as possible, to give them these life-saving supplies and message about how to stay healthy,” said World Concern President David Eller. “This epidemic is hitting the most vulnerable populations. We have a responsibility to act.”