In the News

Hôpital Albert Schweitzer Haiti recognizes World Water Day.

World Day for Water is being celebrated Saturday, March 22, 2008 . This international observance grew out of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro . The United Nations General Assembly by resolution adopted March 22 of each year as the World Day for Water.

Hôpital Albert Schweitzer (HAS) Haiti recognizes World Day for Water as a time to recommit to changing lives not just by providing health care but by providing self-reliance through improved access to essentials such as clean drinking water, sustainable agriculture and irrigation methods.

A group of school children and their teachers
gather around to celebrate the capping of a
spring by their school in Deslandes.

Under the direction of Dawn Johnson, the HAS Community Development division has been a driving force in clean water and sanitation projects in the Artibonite Valley.

During the last eight years, Community Development accomplished the following:

* 90 wells installed

* 450 latrines built. HAS teaches families about hygiene and the health-related importance of a latrine. HAS provides the cement and block for the slab, roofing material, a vent pipe and the technical support. The families arrange the construction.

* 25 cisterns, which are used to cap rainwater, built

* 15 little springs capped

* 3 systems of water distribution rehabilitated

* 2000 sand filters distributed in the valley

520 safe water storage buckets with faucets prepared and distributed to families, schools and other communal areas.

Since founder Dr. Larry Mellon first put down his stethoscope and picked up his shovel, HAS has been deeply involved in improving water and land use in order to improve the health and economic well being of its neighbors. If you would like to assist HAS with its mission of cooperation with the people of the Artibonite Valley, please click here to make a donation or to learn more abour HAS visit our home page.