Atlanta, GA (September 22, 2017) – The earthquakes in Mexico and Hurricane Maria's arrival in the Caribbean this month proffer many immediate and long-term implications to the health of individuals across the Americas. As a response to the recent events and to aid efforts safeguarding and advancing health outcomes for the most vulnerable communities impacted, PAHO Foundation is strategically convening partners from the private and public sectors to leverage needed resources to bolster response and supplement community rebuilding.
Mexico was hit with a powerful 8.1 magnitude tremor earlier this month on September 7th and a 7.1 magnitude quake this Tuesday, September 19th, with mortality estimates currently surpassing the 300 mark, reports BBC Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Moreover, the Tropical Storm and Hurricane Maria continues to threaten Caribbean countries and islands, which include Dominica, Montserrat, Guadeloupe, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Croix and St. Thomas, the US and British Virgin Islands, the Dominican Republic, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Bahamas, Haiti, and Puerto Rico with power outages and flooding, according to coverage by Caribbean360. Without adequate access to health care services, many individuals face a greater risk of contracting infectious diseases, including many mosquito-borne diseases with the plethora of standing water, and those with chronic diseases face the possibility of their conditions worsening without necessary medications on hand.
The Foundation's leadership and staff sends our best wishes and thoughts to the victims and all those affected by the earthquakes and hurricane and additionally extends appreciation to all industry and nonprofit players for their commitment in providing life-changing support and relief.
“In these tough times, it is critical that we, the global health community, come together to show our strength and join forces in helping our communities in need." PAHO Foundation President and CEO Dr. Jennie Ward-Robinson said. “I am proud to share news of PAHO Foundation's campaign to strengthen post-disaster rebuilding efforts. Responding to urgent health threats like these require collaborative and innovative new approaches. Together with our partners, we will create cross-cutting, institutional change that will bridge health care capacity gaps and have lasting health benefits for generations of families, communities, and regions to come.”
As countries prepare for the impending aftermath, including economic and physical effects, of the natural disasters, the Foundation is engaging with various key stakeholders throughout the Americas, including our preferred partner, Project HOPE, to facilitate the distribution of resources to supply, equip, and build health systems capacity. This will enable the maintenance and delivery of proper water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) sources to the areas of greatest need. In doing so, we can work to reduce the spread of preventable infectious diseases, such as cholera, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), areas of continued focus for the Foundation.
Help us restore LAC and other affected areas. Donate now to the Foundation, and know that your contribution will have lasting effects in the region. With your instrumental donation, we can fight to advance healthier and more productive futures for families and communities throughout the Americas.
If you require additional information, or if you would like to partner with us on our campaign, we would love to hear from you. Please send all inquiries to: development@PAHOFoundation.org.
Source: http://www.pahofoundation.org/2017/paho-foundation-activates-disaster-rebuilding-campaign-to-support-regional-response-efforts