![[DOCUMENT] Official Ministry of Health Prevention Poster (Kreyòl)](http://renewal4haiti.squarespace.com/storage/Poster_MSPP_1_prevention-1.jpg){kind=link}
What is cholera?
Cholera is a pathological infection of the small intestine by the vibrio cholerae bacteria (o1 or o139 strain) that inflicts voluminous amounts of diarrhea to its victims. In fact, once incubated (short incubation time period), the diarrhea can kill in as little as 1 to 2 hours. It's a fecal oral disease transmitted in only one way: orally. You can find more information about it here. Click here for multi-lingual hygiene survival tips for Haitians and International Relief Workers.
The "fleuve de L'Artibonite", Haiti's largest and longest river, has been contaminated with this bacteria. If precautions are not taken, this can rapidly spread throughout the entire island. We're taking several steps with CAMEJO Hospital to prepare for the eventuality of it coming to Léogâne.
Untold thousands will potentially die simply because they don't know about the disease. We're helping CAMEJO launch a relentless educational campaign on local television and radio stations to teach the population the simple hygiene tips that will help them ward cholera off.
Everyone in Léogâne has a cell phone. Using the 80,000+ patient records at the hospital, we're also putting in place a massive SMS text messaging campaign with regular updates on the progress of the disease and hygiene tips. Being constantly reminded to be mindful of what they put in their mouths, a lot of lives will be saved.
We've put together several small, condensed informational sheets (tracks) in French, English and Créole that will be in distribution at both CAMEJO locations and throughout Léogâne and surrounding areas with the help of Léogâne mayor and CAMEJO Hospital board member Anthony Dumont.
Infected person will have voluminous amounts of diarrhea that smells fishy and with white flecks in it. This person will lose bodily fluids at a near constant rate (anorectal extremities akin to water faucet). One effect will be a severe and sudden loss of plasma/blood cells, and a decreased blood flow which will lead to not enough oxygen getting to vital organs and tissue. Failing to receive adequate supplies of oxygen, hydrogen ions in those organs will take over and send the body in a state of metabolic acidosis (failing metabolism) which will then send the heart into hypovolemic shock and kill the patient in short order. Other resulting conditions the person may die from include but are not limited to sudden and severe renal deficiency.
Rehydration is the best course of action for anyone infected with the disease. Patients on IVs need to have their blood pressure, heart rate and urine output measured constantly. Using Foley catheters and urine collectors you can control the flow of the urine. The rule of thumb in kilograms is 1 cc of urine per kilo per hour. Meaning if the patient weighs 80Kg, the normal urine output should be 80cc per hour. If urine collected is more, the person is being over-rehydrated and runs the risk of "drowning from the inside". If it's less, not enough rehydration is taking place and should therefore be increased. The person's blood pressure should raise back to normal and heart rate decrease back to normal when hydration successful as well.
It's important to note that this particular strain of vibrio cholerae is known to resist antibiotic treatment. A bit of trial and error may be needed to reach successful treatment and riddance of the pathogen. But doxycycline, Cipro and tetracycline have had success.
We'll be doing all that's within our power for the disease to not reach Léogâne but we're also going to be ready in case it does. To that effect, several additional nurses and other medical personnel have been retained on a stand-by basis to add to CAMEJO's staff. We have sent additional tents to deploy throughout the 3.5+ acre property in case of a large influx of patients.
We'll be sending Ringer Lactate shipments regularly to Léogâne through the Dominican Republic in the coming weeks and months.
If allowed to run unchecked, this can kill as many or more than the earthquake did on January 12th. We're vowing to fight this with everything we have but we need your help. We need to send large quantities of the following to Haiti in the coming weeks and months:
Renewal 4 Haiti, Attn: Lee Elyse Miller
18625 East Dorado Drive
Aurora CO 80015
Check back frequently for updates on our progress and please share this list with everyone you know. Any and all of your help is GREATLY appreciated. Let's continue saving lives in Haiti together.
The "fleuve de L'Artibonite", Haiti's largest and longest river, has been contaminated with this bacteria. If precautions are not taken, this can rapidly spread throughout the entire island. We're taking several steps with CAMEJO Hospital to prepare for the eventuality of it coming to Léogâne.
Renewal 4 Haiti + CAMEJO Hospital response
Untold thousands will potentially die simply because they don't know about the disease. We're helping CAMEJO launch a relentless educational campaign on local television and radio stations to teach the population the simple hygiene tips that will help them ward cholera off.
Everyone in Léogâne has a cell phone. Using the 80,000+ patient records at the hospital, we're also putting in place a massive SMS text messaging campaign with regular updates on the progress of the disease and hygiene tips. Being constantly reminded to be mindful of what they put in their mouths, a lot of lives will be saved.
We've put together several small, condensed informational sheets (tracks) in French, English and Créole that will be in distribution at both CAMEJO locations and throughout Léogâne and surrounding areas with the help of Léogâne mayor and CAMEJO Hospital board member Anthony Dumont.
We will supply CAMEJO Hospital to do distribution of aqua tabs, hand sanitizers, JIF (popular disinfectant in Haiti). We have recommended to the UN Health Cluster and Léogâne city officials that drastic measures be taken to prevent the disease from both reaching the city and spreading amongst its citizens. These include stopping all travel to central Haiti immediately, wearing sterile gloves for even the most menial tasks, teaming up with other southern peninsula healthcare facilities, distributing electrolytes in various forms to the population among others.
Here's a brief summary of how the disease runs its course and what we and everyone need to do to counter it. Infected person will have voluminous amounts of diarrhea that smells fishy and with white flecks in it. This person will lose bodily fluids at a near constant rate (anorectal extremities akin to water faucet). One effect will be a severe and sudden loss of plasma/blood cells, and a decreased blood flow which will lead to not enough oxygen getting to vital organs and tissue. Failing to receive adequate supplies of oxygen, hydrogen ions in those organs will take over and send the body in a state of metabolic acidosis (failing metabolism) which will then send the heart into hypovolemic shock and kill the patient in short order. Other resulting conditions the person may die from include but are not limited to sudden and severe renal deficiency.
Rehydration is the best course of action for anyone infected with the disease. Patients on IVs need to have their blood pressure, heart rate and urine output measured constantly. Using Foley catheters and urine collectors you can control the flow of the urine. The rule of thumb in kilograms is 1 cc of urine per kilo per hour. Meaning if the patient weighs 80Kg, the normal urine output should be 80cc per hour. If urine collected is more, the person is being over-rehydrated and runs the risk of "drowning from the inside". If it's less, not enough rehydration is taking place and should therefore be increased. The person's blood pressure should raise back to normal and heart rate decrease back to normal when hydration successful as well.
It's important to note that this particular strain of vibrio cholerae is known to resist antibiotic treatment. A bit of trial and error may be needed to reach successful treatment and riddance of the pathogen. But doxycycline, Cipro and tetracycline have had success.
We'll be doing all that's within our power for the disease to not reach Léogâne but we're also going to be ready in case it does. To that effect, several additional nurses and other medical personnel have been retained on a stand-by basis to add to CAMEJO's staff. We have sent additional tents to deploy throughout the 3.5+ acre property in case of a large influx of patients.
We'll be sending Ringer Lactate shipments regularly to Léogâne through the Dominican Republic in the coming weeks and months.
If allowed to run unchecked, this can kill as many or more than the earthquake did on January 12th. We're vowing to fight this with everything we have but we need your help. We need to send large quantities of the following to Haiti in the coming weeks and months:
- Primary: ORS (Oral Rehydration Solutions) The basics can be found here. Pedialyte, Ricelyte, etc
- Primary: Doxycicline 300mg, Cipro 1g, Tetracycline (antibiotics)
- Ringer lactate, NaCL, IV solutions (10 to 20 liters needed per patient)
- Foley Catheters to control diuresis
- Aquatabs (water purification tablets)
- Electrolyte Mix packets
- Lubricant
- Gauze and iodine, etc
- Hand sanitizers, towelettes
- NG (nasogastric) tubes
- Intracatheters for IV administration
- IV poles
- Sterile gloves in all sizes
Renewal 4 Haiti, Attn: Lee Elyse Miller
18625 East Dorado Drive
Aurora CO 80015
Check back frequently for updates on our progress and please share this list with everyone you know. Any and all of your help is GREATLY appreciated. Let's continue saving lives in Haiti together.