GRU Volunteers heading to start Cholera Education and Treatment

On Sunday May 8, GRU volunteers returned to the rural village of Grand Rack, a 4-6 hour hikeover a 4600 ft. mountain. Through partner organizations in Fond Parisien, GRU was told of a several likely cholera cases in the remote mountain village, and earlier in the week, had hiked up there with 5 donkeys laden with medical supplies, such as IV fluids, oral rehydration salts and bleach, as well as medical professionals from one of our partner organizations, HERnow. The team provided pateint carefor 2 days, as well as cholera prevention education to several dozen locals. After several days, a team of Cuban doctors relieved the GRU and HERnow team.

Nurse Andy conferring with Projects Manager Laura over Patient Care.

On Saturday, the Deacon from the village contacted GRU and asked them to return with medical professionals, no one had been able to relieve the Cuban team, and there were more sick people coming for help. On Sunday, an initial team of three, including one nurse, hiked up to Grand Rack to man the impromptu clinic there. Upon arrival, the team began treating several patients withcholera symptoms. More patients came in the morning the next day, and the team worked a 14 hour day.

Meanwhile, another team of GRU volunteers loaded the GRU bus with more medical suppliesand headed out to join the first group. On Tuesday morning the second team, accompanied by 5 donkeys, brought more materials up to Grand Rack. On Tuesday evening, Petyote, one of GRU’s localvolunteers, and a certified cholera educator, gave an hour long class to about 50 locals. He discussed hygiene and sanitation, water purification, and explained how cholera spreads and makes people ill.  All the while the medical team continued to care for patients.

During a rain storm, two of the treatment tents collapsed. Thankfully no patients were inside at the time.

On Wednesday the GPS mapping team traveled throughout the valley, mapping settlements,water sources, pubic latrines and paths between villages, as well as gathering demographic information.  This data will for the first time be made publicly available through open sources like Google StreetMaps. This also provided a terrific learning opportunity for Watson, one of the younger Haitianvolunteers, to get hands on training with GPS mapping.

Petyote and Watson Local GRU Volunteers delivering Cholera Prevention Education.

Petyote meanwhile went door to door in the village providing cholera prevention education tosmall groups, and encouraging people to attend another larger class that evening. Later, close to one hundred locals attended that evening’s class. They engaged Petyote with many questions, and seemedeager to better understand the ways to stay healthy. By the time the class ended, the last patient beingtreated was well enough to send home with her family, who of course were there attending Petyote’s class.

On Thursday morning the team of 9 packed up and headed out, leaving a large cache of medicalsupplies which the locals will maintain in preparation for any future need. As of 36 hours since the last patient went home, the Deacon tells us that there have been no new cases.

The team heading back to Port-au-Prince

A Doctor at CMP providing Malaria Education

April 25th 2011 marked the fourth World Malaria Day.  A  day focused on education towards controlling this disease  through timely treatment and effective prevention  measures.  Malaria infects more than 500 million people per  year and kills nearly 800,000 so education is critical.

This year GrassRoots United volunteers teamed up with our  Haitian friends at CMP Medical Clinic in Santo to provide the  necessary education to the community and distribute over  100 brand new mosquito netting to families in need.

GRU Volunteers helping with the mosquito netting distribution

After the Malaria education, participants received mosquito nets.