Helping Hungry and Unhealthy Haiti

Haiti Facts

• Population of over 9 million people
• More than half of all people live in abject poverty
• Hundreds of thousands remain homeless after the 2010 quake
• Poorest country in western hemisphere
• More than 2/3rds of labor force do not have jobs
• Less than 25% of people living in cities have access to clean water
• 500,000 children live in camps and many others live in slums, all lacking the protection of social and police services

Save the Children's Efforts in Haiti

Welcome Centers
To protect vulnerable children living in Haiti, Save the Children has created Welcome Centers for street children in urban areas of Haiti. These centers provide food and shelter, education and health programs and counseling and play opportunities. They also offer scholarship assistance so that children can attend school and provide on-site lessons to prepare children for formal schooling.


Education and Schools
Save the Children implements a rural education program in community, government and mission schools. They try to receive more resources for Haiti's schools. Children benefit from their school health and nutrition activities, medication, iron supplementation and hygiene training, all of which help them stay in school and improve their daily lives.


Health Programs
Working together with the Ministry of Health, Save the Children provides health care for mothers and young children who need it in Haiti. They help prevent and treat malaria, tuberculosis and sexually transmitted diseases and also train health care workers. On top of that, they invest in medical equipment and develop community-based health committees to promote local participation. In addition, Save the Children vaccinates children, provides them with supplemental vitamins and micronutrients, and address common childhood illnesses such as diarrhea. Save the Children projects also increase access to potable drinking water and oral re-hydration therapies. Reproductive health activities promote family planning, pre- and post-natal visits, safe deliveries and sexual education. All of these benefits Haiti greatly because many people living their suffer in dealing with these things.

I think doing all of this work is outstanding. Haiti is a very poor country that could really use as much help as possible. It's good to see that some people are really trying to help the people of Haiti and not just by sending them money or their condolence. What do you think about all of this work? Does Haiti need the help and do you really think that Save the Children is making a difference? Maybe they are missing some key things that they should add to their programs in Haiti, any ideas?