Haiti: Working to Keep Water Cholera-Free

In Cite Soleil, Port-au-Prince, MSF is providing hundreds of tons of water every day, but it's not even close to meeting all the needs in that area.

In Port-au-Prince, many people get their water from public wells or purchase it from water-sellers.
© Ron Haviv/VII
© Ron Haviv/VII
© Ron Haviv/VII
MSF water and sanitation coordinator Katelhine Van Eyck performs tests at public and private water points. She is looking to see if chlorine has been added to keep bacteria from growing and keep people from getting cholera.
© Ron Haviv/VII
© Ron Haviv/VII
© Ron Haviv/VII
Frequently, Van Eyck finds that the water is not protected.
© Ron Haviv/VII
So she explains how to add chlorine in order to prevent water from becoming contaminated.
© Ron Haviv/VII
In Cite Soleil, Van Eyck and her team distribute pamphlets that explain in Creole how to prevent cholera and what to do if you have cholera symptoms.
© Ron Haviv/VII
© Ron Haviv/VII
The chlorinated water MSF provides in Cite Soleil does not come close to meeting all of the needs; neither do MSF’s prevention messages reach everyone that needs to hear them.
© Ron Haviv/VII
© Ron Haviv/VII
In November, MSF called for more organizations and agencies who have the capacity to get involved in activities including water and sanitation and communications. The needs are still great.
© Ron Haviv/VII