This article about cholera in Haiti was in the NYT and released last week. On p.8 you'll see comments from Dr. Seneque Philippe, the physician with whom I work in Pestel.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/01/world/americas/haitis-cholera-outraced-the-experts-and-tainted-the-un.html?pagewanted=8&_r=1&emc=eta1
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Thriving Villages blog
http://thrivingvillages.blogspot.com/
It also mentions Dr. John Carroll and Miriam Frederick (though not by name) who have been working diligently with the response teams to stem the tide.
The massive problem of cholera affects the rural areas in often dramatic ways because they do not have basic healthcare, clean safe water, good sanitation. When you learn of a place where cholera is raging you must think: this is a place with great problems. What it boils down to is that they can't keep their sewage out of their water. In this day and age this should not happen. South America essentially eliminated Cholera from the continent through protecting their water and providing good sanitary practices (e.g. toilets/latrines, hygiene).
Cholera is an ancient disease and there is no reason that people should die from cholera today....except that they do not have access to basic IV fluids, or even more basic oral rehydration therapy, or even more basic: providing clean, safe water and good sanitation so that the two do not mix.
The well-drilling project will be very important toward this end. There is a need for emergency response now and, with the rainy season, cholera will likely proliferate and spread again in the months ahead.
Please pray for wisdom with the well-drilling project, as this is heavy on my heart & mind. We also need a workable approach to sanitation for Pestel.
Ben
Thriving Villages website
http://thrivingvillages.blogspot.com/
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