In the News
HAS Assists Artibonite Residents during Recovery from Tropical Storm Noel
As other natural disasters circle the globe, the people of the Artibonite Valley continue to recover from Tropical Storm Noel and regain their livelihood and well-being. HAS responds to immediate needs, and prepares for future needs resulting from Noel.
Tropical Storm Noel made landfall in western Haiti on October 29, 2007 . According to the Haitian Civic Protection Office, 57 deaths were attributed to the storm. In addition, 400 houses were destroyed and 3,400 people are living in emergency shelters.
While not directly in the storm's path, Hôpital Albert Schweitzer (HAS) Haiti prepares for the storm's aftereffects which include increased illnesses and loss of crops. While the Artibonite valley was spared heavy flooding, the Artibonite river overflowed its banks destroying many gardens and crops. Ten days later, land in the river basin remained soggy creating poor grazing situation for livestock.
Immediate impacts on the hospital included:
• increased admissions and high hospital occupancy rates as the chronically ill lapse into acute episodes. The wet and humid weather makes it very difficult for patients with asthma and bronchitis.
• an increase in opportunistic infections resulting from the damp and dirty conditions.
HAS doctors and nurses will also be monitoring pediatric patients for signs of pneumonia, meningitis and malaria.
Less immediate problems, but with the potential to impact even more people are the following:
• malnutrition over the next three to six months – as a result of lost crops. This will particularly impact children aged two and under who are the most vulnerable residents of the valley.
• an increase in malaria cases, as stagnant water provides breeding grounds for mosquito larvae.
• traffic accidents and the resulting trauma patients as a result of washed out roads and hazardous driving conditions.
You can support the continuing efforts of the HAS staff and the community by clicking here to make a contribution. Your gift will help Hôpital Albert Schweitzer Haiti to continue responding to the community's needs in times of natural disasters, public health concerns, trauma, and the daily struggles of life in the Artibonite Valley .