Program Success November 2008 | Page 11

PROGRAM SUCCESS – NOVEMBER 2008 PAGE 11

400,000 HAITIANS HAVE ACCESS TO CLEAN DRINKING WATER

Washington , DC – 400,000 residents of Port-au-Price , Haiti , and three nearby towns now have access to clean , safe water thanks to a new chlorine system .
Starting in May of 2006 , a U . S . – non-governmental group International Action working with a Haitian group Dlo Pwòp ( Clean Water ) has installed 100 tablet chlorinators in 23 of the poorest neighborhoods for Port-au-Prince .
These neighborhoods include Tokyo , Trou-sable , Simmond Pelé , Cité Soleil , Carrefour and Delmas – some of the poorest and most dangerous part of the capital . These chlorinators protect the water supply for some 400,000 residents , including 250,000 children . For some , it is the first help they have had in many years .
The joint Haitian-American team just installed a larger chlorinator in the coastal town of Arcahaie – hard hit by the three recent hurricanes . With the new water system , Arcahaie ’ s 100,000 residents have access to clean , safe water for the first time . A local leader of the Women ’ s Organization – Rosemilla St . Vil – asked for the chlorinator weeks ago , saying :
“ 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 .” The Clean Water team responded to her plea .
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 / Dlo Pwòp staff ride the circuit of installed chlorinators once a month to check on maintenance and answer questions by local water boards . They encourage local ownership of each water system and teach the skills needed to sustain the chlorine system for future years . The 23 neighborhood committees are becoming active in supporting changes in water and other Haitian policies – a sign of growing local democracy .
International Action is a non-profit incorporated in Washington , DC with a staff of three in the U . S . and five in Haiti and several hundred members . Our Campaign in Haiti will continue for five years and hopes to reach all 1.5 million residents in Port-au-Prince .
One of many water stations in Port-au-Prince . Children and women carry water home every day .
Haitians Clean Drinking Wator Washington DC November 2008
A local resident of Cabaret , Haiti , drinks water treated by International Action after hurricanes .
Daze Travel Center Gail Leonard Jacksonville , Florida November 2008

Save time and money by booking your travel on our site

www . computerdazetravelcenter . biz www . dazetravelcenter . biz

~ All Major Airlines

~ Reserve A Rental Car

~ All Major Hotel Chains

~ Reserve Tee Times

~ All Major Cruise Lines

~ Great Vacation Packages

Gail V . Leonard MBA , CTA 904-647-3184 travel4fun @ computerdazetravelcenter . biz