Haiti Earthquake: People of Haiti face life-long disabilities
With fuel dwindling and medical supplies only trickling through, there is a real race against time to treat those who are at risk of life-long disability after being injured in the earthquake of January 12.
When the fuel stocks run dry, the hospital generators will fail. Many of these hospitals have already run out of basic medicines and anaesthetic, yet the treatment, some including child amputations, is still carried out.
Without the necessary medicines and support, thousands of patients face infection that could easily lead to a life-long disability, or even death.
Lt Gen Ken Keen from the US military said estimated figures of 200,000 fatalities was a "reasonable assumption". Yet there are still stories of people being pulled alive from the rubble.
National Director of CBM UK, Dr. Bill McAllister, commented on the scale and urgency of the problem - “for children alone, statistics show that for every death of a child during a disaster, three are left injured and many of these injuries can, and do, lead to permanent disability without the proper medical care.”
CBM is acting now, to supply medicines, orthopaedic aids and medical treatment to ensure that people with disabilities, or those that now face living with a disability, can receive the treatment and rehabilitation that they need now, and well in to Haiti's future.
CBM in Haiti
CBM has been working with local partners in Haiti since 1976 and has several established project partners in the country including Port-au-Prince.
The UK funded Special Education School in Port-au-Prince, that once provided long term rehabilitation, education and training, is reported to be severely damaged and most likely faces demolition. There have been two casualties within its staff.
Within seconds, millions of lives were changed, but with your help, CBM can ensure that the people of Haiti who have a disability, or now face life with a disability, can receive the long term treatment and rehabilitation that they so urgently need.
CBM UK launched their Haiti Earthquake Appeal on January 13.