Jodi Blackham, program management advisor, traveled to Haiti recently to start a new project management system and wrote about her experience at our cholera clinic. She posted this blog on Global Handwashing Day to bring awareness to how clean hands save lives.

I was hit with the truth that simple solutions save lives while standing in the middle of our cholera treatment center in Haiti. When the nurse managing the center explained to me the triaging system and the treatment they provide, it struck me how simple it all was. Yet, records say between 2,000 and 3,000 Haitians have died from cholera in the outbreak, and the reality is that probably many more have died unrecorded.

When a patient first arrives at the treatment center, they are triaged. Those who are obviously near death are taken straight to the treatment tent and are given IV fluids. Everyone else sits in the triage tent, and if they can keep down four cups of oral rehydration solution (ORS) in the space of two hours they are sent away with ORS to recover at home.

Those who can't keep it down are taken to the treatment tent for a series of IV fluids. That is pretty much it. A few antibiotics are given, but really what are most needed are fluids. Cholera kills by stripping the body of fluids and causing huge stress on the organs. Simply water with a bit of sugar and salt can save lives.

Being at the clinic was sad and encouraging at the same time. Sad because people are dying due to lack of clean water or education, and because people often die since they don’t make it to the clinic in time—but also encouraging because I saw so many people recovering.

Handwashing saves lives. Standing in the cholera clinic reminded me of that.

Samaritan's Purse , Haiti , Help for Haiti , Simple Solutions

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