Haiti Cholera Epidemic WaterBrick Update

Feb. 15, 2012 - PRLog -- WaterBrick International, Inc.
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Haiti Cholera Epidemic WaterBrick Update

February 10, 2012 (Pestel, Haiti) – The cholera epidemic in the Pestel commune in Grand’Anse has produced a significant and growing number of severe Cholera cases resulting in death.  This specific cholera outbreak is concentrated in the mountain region above the town of Pestel and has gained recognition of several aid organizations.  MPHISE is currently organizing a Phase II Cholera Epidemic Management Initiative working to turn around a moribund “hospital” in Pestel.

The MPHISE Phase II Cholera Epidemic Management Initiative has recently started four new Cholera Treatment Centers in the mountainous villages above Pestel. As a member of the EMPHISE team, WaterBrick International has partnered with Dow Chemical to produce WaterBrick containers for these four villages that will be used as a model for a larger scale initiative for the entire country.   Dow will be funding resin for the test pilot to produce these WaterBrick containers and continue with our shared humanitarian efforts.

According to Joe Loeffler, the Vice President with Dow Chemical, “…we are confident that very good WaterBricks can be made from this resin to service the needs of getting clean water to areas of need.” WaterBrick International will continue to work with Dow Chemical to support the MPHISE Phase II Initiative and stop the spread of Cholera in Haiti.

Dr. Michael McDonald, The coordinator for Haiti MPHISE and the President & Executive Director of Global Health Initiatives, Inc., states, “the number of people being infected has also dropped significantly along with the mild cases of diarrhea (and potential mild cholera cases), due to household water purification and safe water storage within  WaterBrick’s  water containers.  WaterBrick will play a critical role as a safe storage intervention container for clean water within   the Phase II Cholera Management Program  .”

Dr. McDonald continues by saying, “Unless the Phase II Cholera Epidemic Management Initiative can be engaged sustainably country-wide, Haiti will continue to fail to manage its deadly epidemic.  Easily a million more Haitians could be infected and thousands of lives lost in the fourth, fifth, and sixth waves of the epidemic, if the same epidemic management and governance approaches that were used in the first three waves of the epidemic continue.”

WaterBrick and the MPHISE Summit in Haiti

Wendell Adams, founder of WaterBrick International joined Dr. Michael McDonald and numerous other team members focusing on presenting a sustainable solution to their water filtration, water storage and overall initiative to stop the spread of the Cholera epidemic.  Numerous solutions were successfully demonstrated and well received by various local officials.  See a picture of one demonstration.  The feedback from these demonstrations was reported back to the U.S. Congressional sub-committee for Haiti by Dr. McDonald on December 7, 2011 and was well received.

For more information about how you can donate WaterBrick containers to help the people of Haiti, please visit http://www.WaterBrick.org