Don't Worry- I'm being cautious.

Warden Message No. 120
Cholera Outbreak in the Artibonite Alert on October 22, 2010

U.S. Embassy Port-au-Prince issued the following Warden Message on October 22, 2010:

The U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince is issuing this Warden Message to alert U.S. citizens that The Ministry of Health in Haiti has issued a statement that the diarrhea outbreak in the Artibonite region is due to cholera. Cholera is an acute, diarrheal illness caused by infection of the intestine with the bacterium Vibrio cholera. The infection is generally mild or without symptoms, but can sometimes be severe. Common symptoms may include watery diarrhea, vomiting, and leg cramps. The most important treatment is rehydration, which can almost always be accomplished with oral rehydration.

Dehydration can be corrected with any fluid, and a patient should drink any available appropriate fluid while oral rehydration fluid is sought. In cases where vomiting is also prominent, oral rehydration solutions (ORS) were designed to be rapidly absorbed from the intestine. If ORS is thought to be indicated, many stores and pharmacies carry ORS. Travelers to remote areas should carry their own ORS packets, which can be added to boiled or treated water.

Standard World Health Organization (WHO) ORS tastes salty and is often unpalatable to travelers. Flavored rice-based ORS (Ceralyte) is also available and may be more palatable. Solution held at room temperature should be consumed or thrown away within 12 hours. If it has been kept refrigerated, it must be discarded after 24 hours. If commercial ORS is not readily available, the replacement solution can be made by drinking alternating glasses of fluid. Glass #1: drink 8 oz. fruit juice plus ½ tsp corn syrup or honey or sugar plus a pinch of salt. Glass #2: drink 8 oz. boiled water plus ¼ tsp baking soda.

There is no cholera vaccine currently available in the USA, and vaccination is not generally recommended. Antibiotics are generally not indicated. Although diarrhea can be dramatic, leading to dehydration and shock, the U.S. Government has not experienced any significant cholera illnesses despite our people being stationed in endemic areas, e.g., Bangladesh.

A person can become infected with cholera by drinking contaminated water or eating contaminated food. Since the source of contamination is usually feces of an infected person, the disease can spread rapidly in areas with inadequate treatment of sewage and drinking water.

PREVENTION: FOOD AND BEVERAGE PRECAUTIONS
Cholera is caused by spread by contaminated food and water. Risk can be minimized by following the guidelines below.

Food Precautions
Recommendations:
· Eat at establishments that are known to cater to foreigners or that are specifically known by other foreigners to be safe.
· Eat foods that are well-cooked and served steaming hot.
· Eat breads, tortillas, crackers, biscuits, and other baked goods.
· Eat fruits, nuts, and vegetables with thick skins, peels, or shells that you remove yourself.
· Eat canned foods.
· Always wash your hands with soap before eating and after using the toilet.
DO NOT:
· Eat any food from street vendors or market stalls.
· Eat leafy or uncooked vegetables and salads.
· Eat undercooked, raw, or cold meat, seafood, and fish.
· Eat or drink unpasteurized dairy products such as cheese, yogurt, and milk. Be particularly wary of ice cream and other frozen confections that may have been made or stored in contaminated containers.
· Eat cold sauces such as mayonnaise, salad dressing, chutneys, or salsas, which are usually raw and made by hand.
· Eat buffet foods such as lasagna, casseroles, and quiches—unless you know they are fresh (not reheated) and have been kept steaming hot. Avoid buffets where there are no food covers or fly controls.
· Eat creamy desserts, custards, or sauces that may not have been adequately refrigerated.

Beverage Precautions
No tap water should be considered safe to drink.
Recommendations:
· Use sealed bottled water or chemically treated, filtered, or boiled water for drinking and for brushing teeth.
· Drink beverages made only with boiled water whenever possible (such as hot tea and coffee). Water boiled for any length of time (even 1 minute), at any altitude, is safe to drink.
· Drink canned, boxed, or commercially bottled carbonated water and drinks. International brands are safest. Beware of unsealed containers that may have been re-filled.
· Safely drink beer and wine; however, alcohol added to beverages does not render them safe.
· Carry safe water with you if you are going out for the day and where availability of safe water is not assured.
· Breast-feeding is the safest food source for infants who are still nursing. If formula is used, it must be prepared with boiled water and sterilized containers.
DO NOT:
· Drink tap water.
· Rinse toothbrush in tap water.
· Use ice unless it is made from boiled, bottled, or purified water. Freezing does not reliably kill organisms that cause diarrhea.
· Drink from wet cans or bottles—the water on them may be contaminated. Dry wet cans/bottles before opening and clean all surfaces that will have contact with the mouth.
· Drink fruit juice unless it comes directly from a sealed container; otherwise it may have been diluted with tap water.

Additional information on news of the diarrhea outbreak, confirmation of Cholera, the Haitian Government’s response, the on-going outbreak investigation, the areas affected in the Artibonite and Central Plateau departments, and the U.S. Government’s response to control the outbreak and prevent further infection, and recommended treatment can be found at the U.S. Embassy’s website: http://haiti.usembassy.gov/

American citizens are advised to avoid this area and should monitor media coverage to stay abreast of the situation as it develops. U.S. citizens are advised to maintain an increased level of vigilance when traveling in and around Port-au-Prince. They should be aware of their surroundings at all times and are encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy.

Nail Polish Extravaganza!

I have been M.I.A for the past week because I was staying busy with a group of 7 fabulous visitors from Wisconsin. We had soccer tournaments, CPR/First Aid training, Klinik "cleaning", clothing organization, prison visits, and much more.

Below is a little glimpse of one of our afternoon activities. Not going to lie, being surrounded by boys 95% of the time, it was nice to have a little "girl time".


All of our little girlies patiently waiting for their turn to be pampered.


Shelly working on a pedi. Shelly speaks French, so she was a huge hit, and quickly made friends.


Shelly's daughter Dylan was also much loved by the little girlies. (I think the feeling was mutual.)



Me with my little lovies. Nancy had a cut toe, so she chose a mani instead of a pedi.

Marian working on a pedicure. She was a kick, and loved dancing with the kids.

message From the Embassy

Warden Message No. 119
On-Going Demonstrations in Downtown Port-au-Prince

U.S. Embassy Port-au-Prince issued the following Warden Message on October 22, 2010:

The U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince is issuing this Warden Message to alert U.S. citizens that there are on-going demonstration in the downtown Port-au-Prince area. Demonstrators have gathered at a church on MLK Blvd. (Nazon) for the funeral of the teacher who was killed on October 8, 2010. The protesters have erected burning barricades, and are expected to march through the streets of Port-au-Prince to Rue Dr. Audin in front of the Ministry of Education.

Message From the Embassy

Warden Message No. 116
Rains Forecasted and Flood Alerts Through Thursday, October 21, 2010

U.S. Embassy Port-au-Prince issued the following Warden Message on October 19th, 2010:

The U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince is issuing this Warden Message to alert U.S. citizens that steady rains flooded portions of the Haitian capital over the weekend, turning streets into rivers and leaving at least 12 people dead. The Centre National de Meteorologie (CNM) forecasts rain for today and until Thursday, October 21, 2010. The CNM and the Direction Protection Civil (DPC) have issued an alert for people residing in the West, Center, Artibonite, South-East, Grand Anse, and North-West departments to be careful during thunderstorms, to watch for mudslides, and not to cross rivers during this time.

American citizens are advised to avoid these areas and should monitor media coverage to stay abreast of the situation as it develops. U.S. citizens are advised to maintain an increased level of vigilance when traveling in and around Port-au-Prince. They should be aware of their surroundings at all times and are encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy.

Message From the Embassy

Warden Message No. 115
Haiti Kidnapping Update for American Citizens

U.S. Embassy Port-au-Prince issued the following Warden Message on October 19th, 2010:

The U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince is issuing this Warden Message to alert U.S. citizens that with 2 recent kidnappings over the last week, the incidence of kidnappings of American citizens in Haiti has reached a total of 9 cases so far in calendar year 2010. The incidence of kidnapping in Haiti has diminished from its peak in 2006 when 60 U.S. citizens were reported kidnapped. In 2007, there were 29 reported kidnappings of U.S. citizens, while in 2008 there were 27 reported kidnappings of U.S. citizens. Last year, there were only 2 reported kidnappings of U.S. citizens. Most kidnappings are criminal in nature, and the kidnappers make no distinctions of nationality, race, gender, or age. Some kidnap victims have been killed, shot, sexually assaulted, or physically abused. Many U.S. citizens who were kidnapped reported being beaten and/or raped by their hostage takers. Kidnapping remains the most critical security concern. Kidnappers have frequently targeted children.

Criminal perpetrators often operate in groups of two to four individuals, and may occasionally be confrontational and gratuitously violent. Criminals sometimes will seriously injure or kill those who resist their attempts to commit crime. In robberies or home invasions, it is not uncommon for the assailants to beat or shoot the victim in order to limit the victim's ability to resist. If an armed individual demands the surrender of a vehicle or other valuables, the U.S. Embassy recommends compliance without resistance. This recommendation also applies in the event of a kidnapping. Visitors to Haiti should exercise caution at all times and review basic personal security procedures frequently.

In the event of a kidnapping of an American citizen, the family of the victim should immediately contact the Haitian National Police’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit (HNP/AKU) at the Direction Centrale de la Police Judiciaire (DCPJ) at: 250-3630, as well as the U.S. Embassy for assistance. During normal working hours, the embassy point of contact (POC) will be the American Citizens Services (ACS) Unit, and after hours the POC will be the embassy duty officer, who is responsible for managing assistance from local law enforcement as we well as any additional law enforcement assets. The HNP have normal jurisdiction on kidnapping investigations in Haiti and they work most effectively with international law enforcement assistance. It is strongly advised that the family of the victim designate a trusted family member or friend as negotiator or third party intermediary (TPI) to deal with the kidnappers’ demands. Local and international law enforcement assets will stand ready to provide negotiation assistance to the TPI. It is also strongly advised that the family have available several phone lines and not make any offers to the kidnappers until directed to do so under the advice of law enforcement. If the family does not want law enforcement assistance, then law enforcement assistance will remain on standby throughout the incident.

U.S. citizens are advised to maintain an increased level of vigilance when traveling in and around Port-au-Prince and other major Haitian cities. They should be aware of their surroundings at all times and are encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy.

Message From the Embassy

Warden Message No. 114
Ongoing Demonstration Today October 18th, 2010

U.S. Embassy Port-au-Prince issued the following Warden Message on October 18th, 2010:

The U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince is issuing this Warden Message to alert U.S. citizens that there is a violent demonstration downtown, in the Fort Nationale area. All trips to Fort Nationale should be rescheduled. Note: Violent protests are expected daily throughout the downtown area for the coming weeks. The absence of a security alert does not imply that the streets are clear. Caution should always be exercised when traveling in and around Port-au-Prince, especially in downtown Port-au-Prince, Carrefour, Cite Soleil, and the Croix des Bouquets areas.

Avoid this area until further notice. Note that violent protest activity is expected to occur on a near-daily basis for the next few weeks, in the downtown area near Champ de Mars and the state universities. American citizens are advised to avoid this area and should monitor media coverage to stay abreast of the situation as it develops. Americans in Haiti are advised to remain alert and to avoid all demonstrations as they can result in violence and require police intervention.

U.S. citizens are advised to maintain an increased level of vigilance when traveling in and around Port-au-Prince. They should be aware of their surroundings at all times and are encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy. They can do so at https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/.

Espwa School in Camp Perrin

Pwoje Espwa Sud was founded in 1998 in Camp Perrin, Haiti. Here is the first school founded by Pwoje Espwa. Currently, there are over 450 students attending a 7 classroom school grades kindergarten-sixth. The school is located on land owned by the Church, and many years ago Father Marc begged the parish to let him use the depot as a school for street children. Reluctantly, the pastor gave in, and Father Marc transformed a run down depot into a school. Now, they are bursting at the seams, but even still, are provided with an education they would otherwise not have.



This is the third grade classroom with 91 students. Imagine teaching, or learning for that matter, in these types of conditions.



Through our IFRP grant, we are able to provide each student for bags of Vita-Food each month. Ideally, we would have an on-site kitchen where the students could receive a hot meal each school day like the students at Pwoje Espwa in Les Cayes have. However, we do not have the funding to build a kitchen or pay for a cooking staff, so the students take the bags home with them, and we pray that they are able to taste the food given to them before it is either stolen, sold, or eaten by someone else.



A little kindergardener has been taught well, and carries her bags of Vita-Food back to her classroom on her head.



Here myself, Tigre, Samy, and Security hand out bags of food to the children. They did a great job standing in line and waiting their turn.

P.S. Amanda- yo di yo sonje ou.