HAS is still in the midst of an unsteady fight against cholera. A water-borne bacterium is never predictable, and cholera spreads particularly rapidly. In this unsure moment, HAS is doing everything it can to remain prepared in case the number of patients in need of urgent cholera care increases yet again.
Helping HAS stay prepared: AmeriCares, a US-based organization that delivers medicines, medical supplies and humanitarian aid to clinics, hospitals and health care providers around the world. We have worked with AmeriCares for years. After the 2010 earthquake, one of the busiest emergency challenges in HAS history, Americares quickly made supplies available to HAS as needed. Americares continues to donate to meet our needs for medicine and medical supplies; financial support for purchasing insulin, one of our costliest medicines; and with logistical support to allow pharmaceutical companies like AstraZeneca to provide us with strong antibiotics for resistant strains of bacteria.
As we have battled through this first peak of the cholera season, Americares has stepped up to support us once again. After two weeks of a steady rate of admissions of cholera patients, certain supplies were quickly being depleted. When HAS contacted the AmeriCares office in Port-au-Prince early last week to find out if they had any needed materials, our contacts there quickly and readily offered what they had to meet our needs. By Friday we had received Aquatabs to purify water and kill cholera bacteria to prevent the spread; oral rehydration salts that can literally save someone from dying of dehydration before they reach a healthcare facility; and extra cholera cots that enable us to provide the most sanitary care possible – to name only three examples!
HAS is extremely grateful to AmeriCares for this and every life-saving donation that this generous organization gives. With this support, we are able to provide healthcare to those who need it most.
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