Update on the World's Health Needs
December 1998
Hurricane Mitch Relief Efforts Continue
"This is the largest foreign natural
disaster that the US has ever responded to. By far the greatest damage was done to the
public works facilities, including water and sanitation systems."
Harriet Babbitt, USAID
The Situation
Recent reports by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) indicate that the health situation in Central America is "grave" and the countries need additional support to respond to the health consequences of the Hurricane Mitch disaster in order to reduce post-disaster health risks.
Hurricane Mitch battered the countries of Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala beginning October 28, and one week later left an estimated 10,000 people dead, devastated the health centers and hospitals, rendered drinking water systems useless, and forced over 2 million people to flee their homes.
Dr. Claude de Ville, Chief of PAHO’s Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Relief Program recently returned from Honduras and El Salvador and reported, "One of our main concerns is control of communicable diseases. While we don’t expect catastrophic outbreaks…cholera, malaria, dengue and leptospirosis are all present in Central America." The widespread flooding which occurred as a result of the heavy rain from Hurricane Mitch also increases the risk of schistosomiasis, yellow fever, hantavirus, and other diseases.
The Response
MAP’s relief efforts to Central America, devastated by Hurricane Mitch, is its largest since responding to Rwanda in 1994. Since late October, MAP has provided over $12,000,000 of medicines and medical supplies to 14 partner U.S. & Canadian PVOs with field programs in the affected region. Additionally, MAP has provided 200 hand-carried Travel Packs of medicines valued at over $300,000 to physicians and relief workers who are traveling from the U.S. to isolated regions needing medical attention.
MAP’s second assessment team, which returned from Honduras December 15th, surveyed the region to evaluate how MAP will assist with the difficult task of rebuiding the health infrastructure and medical delivery system.
Paul Thompson, MAP’s president and CEO, commented, "The crisis in Central America is just beginning. Crops are destroyed, families are homeless, and there are few businesses which will function for some time. The lights of CNN may fade, but MAP International is committed to the people of Central America for years to come." With the continued support of our donor companies, we can offer health and hope to the Central American people as they begin anew.
Steve Meier 912-280-6642 Elise Van
Allen (732) 821-7042
smeier@map.org
lodestar_intl@earthlink.net
Patti Sandow (912) 280-6641 Connie Schriver (912) 280-6644
psandow@map.org
cschriver@map.org
List of medicines still urgently needed for Central America (as requested by PAHO):
List of hospital supplies still urgently needed for Central America (as requested by PAHO):
- Crystalline Penicillin G 1,000.000 IU Parental for Injection
- Dicloxacillin Sodium 500mg Amps.
- Chloramphenicol Succinate 1g Amps.
- Gentamicin Sulfate 80mg/2ml Amps.
- Gentamicin Sulfate 20mg/2ml Capsules
- Salbutamol 5mg/ml, 20 ml Solution
- Aminophylline 250mg/5ml Amps.
- Epinephrine (Aqueous) 0.1%, 1ml Solution
- Dextrose 5% Solution, 1 lt.
- Lactated Ringer’s Solution (Hartmann’s Solution)
- Sodium Chloride 0.9% Solution 1 lt.
- Distilled Water 5ml Amps.
- Diclofenac Sodium 75mg Amps.
- Hydrocortisone 500mg Amps.
Happy Holidays … and the best to each of you in the new year!
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