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A Simple Solution To Help Combat Cholera In Haiti

By Lisa Collier Cool | Posted November 2 2010

Haiti’s first cholera outbreak in a century has heightened longstanding fears of an epidemic spreading to the crowded camps sheltering more than 1.5 million people left homeless by the January 12 earthquake. So far, more than 4,700 cases have been reported, claiming upward of 300 lives. Aid groups are rushing medical teams, water purification kits and medical supplies to the outbreak’s epicenter, a rural area north of the nation’s capital, and working to protect vulnerable earthquake survivors in other regions from this dangerous new health threat.

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Among them is Project HOPE, a Millwood, Virginia humanitarian group that provided more than 100 volunteer doctors and nurses, along with $60 million in medical supplies immediately after the quake, then launched a multi-year program to care for the more 10,000 patients requiring long-term care from earthquake injuries, including 4,000 amputees. The group has now sent a team of 6 additional medical volunteers, headed by Dr. Larry Ronan of Massachusetts General Hospital, to treat cholera cases at Hôpital Albert Schweitzer.

Once again, Haiti is battling a natural disaster, since the cholera outbreak appears to be triggered by drinking water polluted with sewage after flooding in the affected region. Cholera is an intestinal disease that causes such severe vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration that it can kill in hours. However, a simple treatment—hailed as one of greatest health advances of the past 150 years by British Medical Journal—can save lives, at an average cost of just $5 per patient.

Known as oral rehydration therapy (ORT), it consists of three ingredients: sugar, salt and water. In the 1960s, researchers Richard Cash, MD, MPH and David Nalin, MD discovered through clinical trials in Bangladesh that this oral solution worked just as well as IV fluids that are scarce and expensive in developing countries. Since then, ORT has rescued more than 40 million people around the world from diarrheal diseases, including saving the lives of about 3 million babies and toddlers each year.

To combat the Haitian cholera outbreak, USAID is providing 300,000 ORT kits to affected areas and other groups are trucking in clean water, chlorine, hygiene kits and tents to help overwhelmed local hospitals shelter patients. The Red Cross has launched a public health campaign via radio and text messages to educate people about the disease’s symptoms and sanitation practices to prevent it.

To help kids with cholera, Project HOPE has sent 50 cases of Pedialyte, a type of ORT formulated for children, plus cases of LifeStraws, portable filters that remove 99.99% of bacteria, including the germs that cause cholera, from drinking water. Since they don’t require batteries or electricity, and can purify up to 18,000 liters of water (enough to supply a family of five for three years), these innovative devices are widely used in developing countries where people lack access to safe water.

Through similar missions in Turkey and China after earthquakes in those countries, Project HOPE president and CEO John Howe III, MD, has learned that there are three phases to disaster relief. “Over the weeks and months after the acute crisis of utter destruction, chaos and traumatic injury, there’s the quiet crisis of treating chronic illness and rehabilitation, followed by the unseen crisis: the need for vaccines and good sanitation to prevent infectious diseases like cholera.”

In just ten months, the impoverished island nation has been hit with all three crises and more than 9,000 NGOs from around the world have stepped in to help, reports Dr. Howe, who recently met with officials and public health workers in Haiti. “The lesson learned is that where there’s a crisis, there’s hope. After immense tragedy, the Haitian people survive on sheer determination.”

CONNECT THE DOTS

For more information on cholera prevention and control, visit the World Health Organization website or MedlinePlus. Also read “The Lessons of Oral Rehydration Therapy” in the Harvard Public Health Review. Want to help with the Haitian crisis? Donate through Project HOPE, which also has volunteer opportunities for health care providers in the US, Haiti and other countries.

  • Pam Trondson

    I have a friend in Haiti and I would love to buy a LifeStraw for him, and possibly his family members and ship it to him. Is that possible? How would I do it and what would the cost be?

    Thank you,
    Pam Trondson

  • Lisa Collier Cool

    Hi Pam,

    You might want to consider getting in touch with the folks at Project HOPE (http://www.projecthope.org). They’ve delivered free LifeStraws to the areas of Haiti affected by cholera and likely have more information that they could share with you. We don’t know what shipping costs to Haiti are like or whether it’s possible to buy individual LifeStraws as opposed to bulk purchases. However, similar devices are definitely sold individually on amazon.com and you can ship through them. It’s so great that you are reaching out to your friend! Best of luck!

  • ED KOSTER

    A Better World is a New York-based organization which serves the public in a few different ways, from weekly educational, community radio and TV shows to offering high-quality products to support both health and the environment. We are pleased to now be offering what we feel are cost-effective solutions to providing clean water to the people of Haiti and other areas where clean water is scarce but much needed.

    Our portable water filtration systems and Hydra have a proven track record of filtering water thoroughly and inexpensively to prevent the spread of disease from existing water sources. The Hydra System will process 20,000 Gallons of clean water per day and is powered by Solar Panels. I have also included information on Airscape Domes that can provide emergency shelter.

    A Better World is registered as a supplier to UNICEF and other United Nations Agencies. Our Vendor # is 187358.

    Both the Jerrycan and Personal Water Filter Bottle will eliminate bacteria, cysts, fungi, pesticides, heavy metals, parasites, viruses
    (including H1NI and Cholera) and all other microbiological water-borne contaminants and pathogens without the use of Chlorine, Iodine
    or any other chemicals.

    These represent a real breakthrough in portable, cost-efficient, water filtration technology.

    The Jerrycan will produce 20,000 Gallons of safe, sterile drinking water. The Retail Price is $449.

    We are offering it to Relief Agencies for $399

    Special Offer For Relief Agencies 15,000 Gallon Jerrycan for $199

    The Water Bottle will provide 6,000 Liters of safe, sterile drinking water. The Retail Price is $229

    We are offering it to Relief Agencies for $159

    Additional Technical Information is available at our Website http://www.abetterworld.net

    We would like to provide the People You are assisting, Your Staff and Volunteers with these quality, portable water systems as soon as possible For Information on Quantity Discounts and to place an order contact:

    Ed Koster, Coordinator (914) 886-8505

    If You would like to purchase a Filter and send it to an Agency in Haiti we can provide that service due to working closely with:

    Haitian Peoples Support Project, Woodstock, New York http://www.haitiansupportproject.org and Water Without Borders, Poughkeepsie, New York

  • Shington

    I’m Haitian name’s : shington cinelus
    I live in Salisbury , MD with my parents but in fact we all know it is the end of the world like God says loves one another no matter who you’re where you from what country , what your race is. I know the cholera will destroy Haiti and before all that, the earthquake also killed too many Haitians. Now we’ve heard about cholera, so please let’s be cooperate together to help that poor country with medicine. God Bless the United States of America. Thanks.

  • Shington ( Dc)

    How much I can buy a lifestraw or is it gonna be free?

  • Sheline Caze

    I have my mother in Haiti I don’t have anything to give to country however i can pray for them I just want say i love them may God Bless them and my mom too….love mom.

  • Geno Paesano

    I like to think of myself as a compassionate person ready to volunteer my time, talents and money to help improve and/or save lives. But, I can’t help but question the billions of dollars and countless man-hours that have gone to aid Haiti since January 2009; in addition to the decades of foreign aid before the earthquake. Yes, the recent efforts have saved lives, but to what end? From Papa Doc and Baby Doc to the recent corrupt politicians financial aid has been squandered, the infrastructure neglected, the plight of the people ignored. And, yet, the tragic views in the media and the emotional pleas for more aid result in an international effort once again with little long-term effect. Saving the lives of Haiti’s cholera patients seems like sustaining the lives of a terminally ill cancer patients living in chronic pain. When will the contributing nations and organizations demand accountability from the sham of a government that rules Haiti and profits from the international effort?

  • Lisa Collier Cool

    Lifestraws are not sold individually. Instead, the company makes them available in bulk to charitable organizations. You can read more about these devices on the manufacturer’s website: http://www.vestergaard-frandsen.com/lifestraw

  • M. Larkin

    I read in People Magazine, December 2010 edition, that an American family adopted sick children from Ethiopia, and this website was listed.

    Please direct me to the proper channels to assist with this.

    Thank you.

  • josh

    can somebody tell me please where all that money goes? please somebody anybody

  • Lisa Collier Cool

    M. Larkin,

    I’m not familiar with the adoption program for sick kids from Ethiopia, so am unable to assist. Thus far, I haven’t blogged about that topic, but appreciate your interest in the Haiti cholera post.

  • Lisa Collier Cool

    Ed,

    Thanks for the detailed information about A Better World and its work to deliver clean to the people of Haiti and in other countries where it’s needed. We plan to have other blog posts about the issue of clean water and always applaud those who are working to solve these problems.

  • Peter M. Cromwell

    There is an even more simple solution to “combat cholera” – BOIL THE WATER BEFORE YOU DRINK IT!! Y’know, um, “fire”??

  • po8vamp

    Sugar, salt and water = gatorade. It’s the exact formula minus the flavoring and food coloring. For some odd reason my body doesn’t retain water, my doctor’s can’t seem to figure it out. The only solution they came up with is to constantly have Gatorade stocked in the home. First sign of dehydration is having a headache, followed by nausea. Upon drinking Gatorade, things subside and go back to normal. Always keep Gatorade in the home or a simple mixture of sugar, salt, water with lemon or lime.

  • Lisa Collier Cool

    Hi Peter,

    The simple solution is for treating cholera once people have already gotten it because the disease causes rapid, potentially fatal dehydration. However, boiling water, if people have access to firewood or other materials to do so, is certainly a good prevention method.

  • Lisa Collier Cool

    Hi Po8vamp,

    Gatorade has some of the same ingredients as ORT, but I don’t know how the proportions compare to the form used as a cholera therapy. Glad you find it helpful for your medical condition.

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