Cholera Outbreak
As of January 16, 2011, according to the MSPP (Haiti’s health department), there were 194,095 cumulative cholera cases and 3,819 related deaths. By the end of 2010, DSI had provided treatment systems and Gadyen Dlo to 353 schools with UNICEF, delivered 90 gallons of Gadyen Dlo to DINEPA (Ministry of Water and Sanitation) to purify over 340,000 gallons of water, and trained 140 community healthcare workers. Read more at DSI Provides Safe Water in the Cholera Impact Area. DSI continues to provide safe water systems and Gadyen Dlo to the Haitian government, UN affiliated organizations (UNICEF and MINUSTAH), and NGO partners (including Samaritan’s Purse, American Friends Service Committee, and many others).
- 225 gallons of Gadyen Dlo ready for delivery
Hurricane Tomas
In the first week of November 2010, Haiti was hit by Hurricane Tomas. The hurricane did not directly hit the earthquake zone, where displaced families would be highly exposed and endangered. However, heavy rains have caused flooding (including a river overwhelming Leogane (pictured)) and may result in mudslides in populated areas and high winds that would damage or destroy makeshift tent shelters. Read about how DSI providing over 6,000,000 gallons of safe water in the impacted communities here: DSI Supports Families Impacted by Hurricane Tomas
Earthquake Response
DSI has been able to reach over 85,000 people with safe water. Our efforts have been centered in Leogane, a large community very close to the epicenter of the earthquake and in great need of support for basic survival. Over 18,000 household systems have been distributed and Gadyen Dlo (our Haitian-made liquid chlorine that purifies water) is being provided. We have scaled up with 11 core staff and 140 community health care workers who distribute Gadyen Dlo to families and educate the community on safe water use. In November 2010, we will be expanding this network to an additional 2,700 families (approximately 12,420 more Haitians). With your continued support we will continue to expand and help those how are still suffering from the earthquake.
Read Michael Ritter’s blog and Picasa photo album to appreciate DSI’s response in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake.
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Bucket delivery in Leogane
One of many tent communities in Leogane
Recent points of recognition for DSI and Gadyen Dlo:
- UNICEF and DINEPA (Haiti’s Ministry of Water and Sanitation) suggest new rural water supplies should adopt one of three recommended chlorination options, one of which is Gadyen Dlo, the locally produced chlorine product promoted by DSI.
- Michael Ritter has been invited to Co-chair the WASH Cluster groups lead by UNICEF.
- WHO has referred to the Gadyen Dlo pilot project in northwest Haiti as the most successful among community-based household chlorination programs worldwide in self-sustaining health promotion.
- DSI was awarded the 2008 Templeton Freedom Award for Social Entrepreneurship.
DSI in the press:
2011
- 12/22 – UNICEF: Haiti – In Haiti, guarding families from cholera with local water treatment product
- 10/23 – The Catholic Moment – “It is you who are making the difference”
- 9/25 – Europa Press (EPSocial) – Severn Trent Services donates water purifiers eleven to three humanitarian organizations working in Haiti
- 8/10 – Nokia Conversations – Innovative mobile applications for healthcare
- 7/27 – Sheng Ying – In Haiti, the Use of NFC RFID Phone Tracking Drinking Water to Prevent Cholera Epidemic
- 5/25 – Interempresas - Severn Trent Services donates equipment to disinfect drinking water to Haiti
- 4/19 – Haiti Libre – Haiti – Technology : 13 million gallons of water disinfected per day !
- 4/16 – DSI’s Gadyen Dlo program will be presented at 8th Annual Global Health & Innovation Conference at Yale University – Accessing Enterprise Aspects in Traditional International Development Programs
- 4/12 – IDNoticias – NFC used to test water quality after the earthquake in Haiti
- 2/23 – News Medical – Haiti’s cholera outbreak has plateaued, death rate remains high in rural regions, U.N. says
- 2/18 – Scientific American – Aqua Plan: Could Cell Phones Help Aid Workers Ensure Haiti’s Supply of Clean Drinking Water?
- 1/13 – Board Member David B. McGinty was featured on Utah Public Radio (also published at The Chronicle of Philanthropy) – Bringing Clean Water to Haiti
2010
- Board Member David B. McGinty was a speaker at Haiti 2020, a conference on public health initiatives held at Georgia Tech – link forthcoming
- 12/1 – Pittsburgh Tribune - Lanxess, PPG, Nova donate to Haiti relief
- Fall – Grove City College Alumni (The GeDUNK) – Saving the Children
- 10/28 – Pittsburgh Tribune – Pittsburgh-area groups help Haitians to battle outbreak of cholera
- Spring – Emory Magazine – Helping Haiti
- 3/1 – UNICEF TV - Bringing Safe Water to Remotest Haiti (uncut here)
- 2/26 – UNICEF – Reaching the most remote Haitian earthquake survivors with safe water
- 2/26 – Georgia Tech Alumni – Humanitarians at Heart
- 2/2 – Essence Magazine – An Insider’s Guide to Donating To Haiti
- 1/25 – Associated Content (Yahoo!) - Deep Springs International: Bringing Clean Water to Haiti
- 1/19 – Pittsburgh Post Gazette – Many charities helping Haiti
- 1/19 – Pittsburgh Business Times – Haitian orphans arrive in Pittsburgh, more companies step up to help
- 1/18 – Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - Grove City-linked safe-water charity tested by earthquake
- 1/16 – Pittsburgh Post Gazette - Pittsburgh students respond generously to Haiti crisis
- 1/15 – Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - Brotherhood hit home for former Moon resident Michael Ritter
- 1/14 – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - For those with connections to Haiti, the dread is not knowing
2009
- 4/18 – Allied News – Not a Drop to Drink
If you see any news about DSI or items you believe would be of interest, please shoot us an email!
