400,000 Haitians Have Access To Clean Drinking Water

PR Log (Press Release) – Oct 23, 2008 – Since May of 2006, International Action has installed more than 100 tablet chlorinators in 23 of the poorest neighborhoods of Port-au-Prince. These chlorinators protect water supplies for some 300,000 people. The neighborhoods include Tokyo, Trousable, Simmond Pele, Cite Soleil, Carrefour and Delmas – some of the poorest and most dangerous parts of the capital. For some, it is the first help they have had in many years
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International Action recently installed a large chlorinator in Arcahaie. Now, with the new water system, its 100,000 residents have access to clean, safe water. Even before the floods, Rosemilla St.Vil, Coordinator of Women’s Organization for Arcahaie described its water situation gravely, “People drink the water where all the animals bathe and people wash clothes. Children get sick and many die. It’s a serious problem. We need help.”

In Jalousie – in the hills above Port-au-Prince – International Action installed a chlorinator which now protects 50,000 people. The nurse in Jalousie reported a major drop in chronic diarrhea cases which she must treat. A municipal laboratory found that germs of typhoid and cholera are no longer present in Jalousie’s water. People from nearby neighborhoods are crossing into Jalousie to take home safe water.

International Action staff rides the circuit of installed chlorinators once a month to check on maintenance and answer questions by local water boards. International Action encourages local ownership of each water system and teaches the skills needed to sustain the chlorine system for future years. Its 23 neighborhood committees are becoming active in supporting changes in water and other Haitian policies – a sign of growing local democracy.