In partnership with the Ministry of Health and volunteers from local churches, OBI distributed pills to 1,783 children in schools and orphanages across the city.

JEREMIE, Haiti – A small pill is making a big impact in one of the world’s most impoverished countries.

This week, Operation Blessing launched their first-ever anti-parasite initiative in Haiti with a distribution of pills in the city of Jeremie, capital of the Grand Anse department.

During the one-day event, OBI teams, in partnership with the Ministry of Health and volunteers from local churches, distributed pills to 1,783 children in schools and orphanages across the city.

A Haitian representative from President Clinton's UN Envoy office was also there assisting with the distribution efforts.

The event comes on the heels of a recent anti-parasite distribution in the Ivory Coast in Africa in October. Earlier this year, OBI kicked off their annual program in Mexico, working in conjunction with the Mexican Ministry of Health to distribute an initial 1.5 million doses of the anti-parasite medication Albendazole.

Nancy Dorsainville, from President Clinton's UN Envoy office, assisted Operation Blessing with the pill distribution.

Intestinal worms pose serious health problems and are one of the top ten causes of death in children under five.

Lack of proper hygiene makes the population susceptible to infestation, which can also occur through walking barefoot in infested soil, eating unwashed food, and exposure to animal and human waste.

In Haiti, Operation Blessing is hoping to de-worm 1 million children by the end of year as part of a 2009 initiative to provide anti-parasite treatment to more than 18 million worldwide.

HOW YOU CAN HELP
Be a part of OBI's ongoing medical relief efforts by making an online contribution to help those suffering from extreme poverty and sickness.

 

------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright © 1997- 2010 by Operation Blessing International of this page and all contents. No part of this site may be used without prior written consent from OBI. All Rights Reserved. Questions or comments? Email us at operation.blessing@ob.org.