Haiti
Pure Water for the World started its campaign in Haiti in early 2008. This national campaign brings hygiene education and clean water to schools, clinics and orphanages. We have partnered with Management Sciences for Health, and are focusing our work in areas that are underserved or are “hot spots.” Our first location was in Cite Soleil, a section of Port au Prince. Cite Soleil is the worst slum in the western hemisphere and is known as the poster child of poverty. In addition to working in Cite Soleil, we are working in four communes on the Haitian/ Dominican border.
In the first 18 months, Pure Water provided clean water and hygiene education to more than 725 schools, most of which are in Cite Soleil. We trained 51 filter technicians and installed and monitored 3,500 biosand filters serving over 205, 000 students, as well as 493 households and 91 health facilities. Pure Water is now the second largest non-government organization in Cite Soleil, and has a more complete list of schools than the government! We have trained 750 teachers in sanitation and proper hygiene.
Pure Water has a filter factory outside of Port au Prince where we produce the bio sand filters which are placed the schools and homes. This facility is a world class operation with ample room to expand into a national training center.
We are also continuing to work in La Croix, a project which was started in 2007. This is also a project to bring clean water and hygiene education to families living in this region.
Though our work in Haiti we are being approached by many parents and teachers who see the change brought by clean water and sanitation. They want it brought to their homes and schools as well. This gives all of us a great sense of encouragement as we continue to help those in Haiti.
For information on our efforts in Haiti since the January, 2010 earthquake, please visit our newsletter section- http://purewaterfortheworld.org/newsletters/
Why Haiti
- Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere
- It is referred to as a “fourth” world country
- Water-borne diseases are the second most common cause of death in children under five
- 50% of the hospital beds in Haiti are occupied by patients with water-borne diseases
- Only 58% of Haitians have access to clean water, and 19% have access to good sanitation
- The infant mortality rate is 60/1,000 live births
- The population of this country is 8.5.million
- 6.2 million live below the poverty line, almost 3/4ths of the population
- Nearly 7.2 million lack access to reliable energy
- Live expectancy for women is 56, and for men it is 52
- Formal unemployment rate is 70%
- Illiteracy is estimated to be 44%
Facts provided by: USAID, World Health Organization, and UNICEF
