Cary, N.C. – Hope for Haiti Foundation (HFHF) announced today an initiative to purchase and distribute mosquito nets to help prevent malaria and other insect-borne diseases in the areas of Haiti where HFHF currently runs schools and medical clinics. This announcement coincides with the first day of hurricane season, which highlights the continued need for shelter and medical care in earthquake-stricken Haiti.
Before the January 12 earthquake, Haiti was among the top 40 countries in the world affected by malaria, but overcrowded camps, lack of shelter and worsened sanitation since the earthquake have created a favorable environment for malaria. Any hurricanes that make landfall in Haiti this summer will intensify these conditions and increase the risk of infectious diseases such as malaria.
The use of insecticide-treated nets has proven to be an effective way to prevent infection, and celebrities such as Ashton Kutcher and David Beckham have made news for their endorsements of organizations working to provide mosquito nets in Africa. Hope for Haiti Foundation believes there is a heightened need for malaria prevention in Haiti and that mosquito nets are a cost-effective, simple and practical way to combat the disease.
“We are glad for the opportunity to address this need, and we know our generous supporters will make it possible for us to provide mosquito nets to many people in Haiti’s remote villages,” said Stephanie Brooks, spokeswoman for Hope for Haiti Foundation. “A net costs only $10, but can make a difference between life and death for those without shelter or access to medical care.”
June 1 marks the start of the 2010 hurricane season, which meteorologists are predicting to be especially severe. Not only can these storms wreak havoc on the Haiti’s unstable infrastructure and economy, as they did in 2008, but flooding and sanitation issues caused by hurricanes create a hotbed for infectious disease. Warm summer temperatures and stagnant water collection provide the perfect habitat for mosquito-breeding, and this year, with many Haitians still living on the streets or in tent cities after the earthquake, severe weather has the potential to be particularly devastating.
“While our prayer is that Haiti is spared from hurricanes, we do hope that the start of hurricane season raises awareness of the continued need in Haiti,” said Brooks. “There is still so much work to be done, and the threat that hurricanes pose to public health in Haiti makes our work all the more urgent.”
To donate a mosquito net to Haiti, visit http://hopeforhaitifoundation.com/donate.html and click on the link for one-time donations. In the memo line, indicate that you wish for your donation to be earmarked for mosquito nets. For every $10 donated, HFHF will be able to provide one mosquito net to Haiti.
