Darbonne and surroundings / Haiti
Improved health and nutrition for women and children in Léogâne
- Vaccination campaigns are necessary to prevent diseases.
Even before the earthquake hit Haiti in January 2010, there were almost no health care services in the country's rural areas. The disaster has aggravated the situation in general, but in particular for the most vulnerable groups, such as women and children.
The maternal and infant mortality rates are extremely high in Haiti. Especially in the rainy season, respiratory infections, diarrhoea and malaria worsen the situation and are the main cause of death for children.
The earthquake also led to a further deterioration
of the nutritional status of the population and the inadequate hygiene
conditions that had already been deficient before the disaster.
With
a comprehensive approach, Malteser International ensures the access of
the population to adequate basic health services, improves the health and nutritional status of mother and children, and sustainably raises
the awareness for hygiene and health and an adequate behaviour. Action
plans and measures are developed in cooperation with the communities.
The breakout of cholera throughout various areas of Haiti, with 500 000 people affected, also led to an increase of cholera cases in Darbonne, where a Cholera Treatment Unit (CTU) was integrated into the already existing Health Centre. From March 2011 to February 2012, more than 1000 heavily affected patients have been treated in the unit. Prevention measures at local level have prevent further spread of the disease.
- Sustainable basic health care: high-quality health care is provided in a health centre and by mobile medical teams
- Reduction of mother and child mortality and morbidity through check ups for women and babies
- Sustainable improvements in the nutritional status of pregnant and breastfeeding women, babies and children under five
- Promotion of hygiene and health awareness in the population through education campaigns in villages and schools
- Improvements in sanitation and water supply through the implementation of action plans and micro-projects
- Basic health care provided in a health centre and by mobile medical teams
- Vaccination campaigns
- Distribution of 12,000 impregnated mosquito nets to reduce the malaria mortality and morbidity rates
- Improvement of the maternal and child health through the construction of a maternity, improved obstetrics, check-ups for pregnant women and for babies, formation and equipment of auxiliary midwives on village level, foundation of mother support groups
- Reduction of under- and malnutrition of pregnant and breastfeeding women, babies and children under five, for example with counselling on nutrition, weight monitoring of children, treatment of parasites and distribution of necessary vitamines, iron ...
- Awareness campaigns concerning health and hygiene in villages and schools
- Micro-projects and action plans on village level for sustainable income generation, access to clean drinking water, adequate sanitation and hygienic rehabilitation of the slaughter place in the market of Darbonne.
- Set up of a temporary Cholera Treatment Unit with 25 beds. An ambulance service works 24/7 to ensure referrals and immediate treatment.
- Support of local partners for a progressive transfer of the health centre in 2012, to ensure a sustainable access to basic health care in Darbonne
| Project data | |
| Duration: | since July 2010 |
| Cost: | Nachbar in Not (Austria), EADS, Germanys Relief Coalition (ADH), Malteser International, private donations |
| Contact | |
| Malteser: | Jelena Kaifenheim |
| info(at)malteser-international.org | |
Media library
On International Handwashing Day, Malteser International set up handwashing points at nine schools.
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Portrait of our help Luckenda Mathurin, Hygiene Promoter in Cité Soleil
