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Attempt to decrease infant mortality rate in Haiti with diapers
According to reports of some UNICEF social workers, inadequate diapering is a huge contributor to diarrhea and worm infestations in Haitian babies. An entrepreneur is coming up with an idea to decrease Infant Mortality Rate in Haiti.
Jake's Diapers, Inc. is a 501(c) 3, non-profit ministry whose mission is to provide cloth diapers to babies, children, and adults in extreme poverty, especially in countries like Haiti. About six years ago, Stephanie Bowers, the Executive Director of Jake's Diapers once visited an orphanage in Pachacutec, Peru. There she saw that the caregivers, although their love for the babies was beyond doubt, were forced to reuse disposable diapers. They were doing their best with their only available option and that was a forced pick between diaper and food. This unthinkable choice happens every day for many rural Haitian families.
Rotavirus vaccine to fight infant mortality in Haiti
Many infant mortality in Haiti are caused by diarrhea that can lead to dehydration, vomiting and fever. Often, these are the symptom of a virus called: Rotavirus.
Rotavirus infections spread easily in settings where many children are together. It is obtained through contact with the stool from an infected child. It is estimated that rotavirus disease is taking the lives of close to 2,500 Haitian children every year.
Due to its high contagious rate, just an improvement in drinking water, sanitation or hygiene would not solve the problem. Vaccination has been determined to be the best method to stop the spread of rotavirus.
Midwife, Fanm Sage, could help avert Infant mortality in Haiti
Thousands of women and newborns continue to die each year during pregnancy and childbirth or after. The vast majority of these deaths could have been prevented with proper prenatal and delivery care.
Skilled birth attendants such as a midwife, doctor or nurse, who have been trained to manage uncomplicated pregnancies, deliveries and the immediate postnatal period could be the solution. They could also be trained to identify complications and obtain timely emergency assistance.
Unfortunately, skilled midwives are in short supply and Haiti never had enough midwives to meet the needs of the population. Hundreds of thousands of women and newborns continue to die each year during pregnancy and postnatal period.
Injuries and illnesses, the leading causes of infant mortality in Haiti
Haiti has the highest rates of infant mortality under-five and maternal mortality in the Western hemisphere.
Injuries which account for (66%) are by far the most common cause of death in children aged 1 to 5 year. Over 2,000 Haitian children a year are trafficked to the Dominican Republic, often with the consent of their parents. Several thousands are working as messengers, spies and even soldiers for armed gangs and are subject to abuse and death.
Lack of access to basic health-care services is the next leading cause for Haiti high child mortality rate. Illnesses associated with infant mortality in Haiti include Diarrhea, malaria, tuberculosis, respiratory infections and HIV/AIDS.
Preeclamsia/eclampsia, the leading case of Maternal Mortality in Haiti
While the primary reason for maternal mortality Caribbean is hemorrhage(23%), followed by hypertension(22%), in Haiti it is different. The main cause of maternal death in Haiti is preeclamsia/eclampsia at an alarming rate of (37.5%), followed by hemorrhage at (22%).
Preeclampsia/ eclampsia are the development or worsening of high blood pressure during pregnancy. The symptoms of preeclampsia are seizures. This condition can develop any time from 20 weeks into the pregnancy until weeks after delivery.
Often, as blood pressure continues to climb higher, this may cause the placenta to separate from the wall of the uterus, causing severe bleeding and even death of the fetus and possibly the mother.
Give birth in Haiti at your own risk
We are aware that infant mortality in Haiti is at an alarming rate, the highest in the Caribbean. Maternal Mortality is yet another problem that the country must deal wit more effectively.
The maternal mortality ratio in Haiti in 2013 was 380 per 100,000 live births which was evaluated at more than 1000 maternal deaths. This was an official number. Considering how difficult it is to come up with real numbers, the actual rate of maternal death could be much more. Again this ratio is much higher in Haiti than in other regions in the Caribbean
Haiti is killing children as quickly as they are born
Haiti is once again leading the region. The country has been ranked poorly for lacking in the care provided to its newly born children. Haiti has been classified as having the highest rates of infant, under-five and maternal mortality in the Western hemisphere.
The Haiti child mortality rate was at a level of 69 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2015. It came down from 71 deaths per 1,000 live births of 2014. In 2005, the same rate was 90. This rate is often used as an indicator in rating a country's overall health. Overall, the infant mortality rate of the world is 42.09 according to CIA World Factbook.
Do you know why an International Youth Day was created?
International Youth Day is observed annually on 12 August
International Youth Day (IYD) is an awareness day designated by the United Nations, which is observed every year on August 12, since 2000. It is celebrated all around the world with an objective to raise awareness about issues that affect young people who are aged between 15 and 24 years of old, making up one-sixth of the global human population. Each year the occasion is observed with a specific theme. The theme of 2015 was "Youth Civic Engagement" and the slogan for 2014 was "Youth and Mental Health." The logo of United Nation is often associated with the marketing and promotional material for this event. In the face of hardship, 'International Youth Day' is an effort to make sure that young people have the critical skills, tools, and support that they need to become healthy, productive and engaged members of society and they bring great leadership and resilience.
Haiti on blacklist of shame for not fighting human trafficking and slavery
The United States have updated their "black list" and Haiti is one of the countries placed on the blacklist of shame for not meet the minimum standards for fighting against human trafficking or slavery. Having Haiti in the blacklist of shame will likely make things worst for a country that is already dealing with all types of crises. This can include imposition of economic sanctions such as freezing of non humanitarian aid and non-commercial and the refusal to grant loans from multilateral institutions.
Other countries on the list include: Suriname, Myanmar, Djibouti, Papua New Guinea, Sudan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Algeria, Belarus, Belize, Burundi, Central African Republic, the Marshall islands and the Comoros, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Iran, North Korea , Mauritania, Russia, South Sudan, Syria, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.
Haitian Street children used by gang as informers to kill Haitian Police
According to a video circulating on the web, there was an interview conducted with one of these children who explained how the gangs have been using the street children in Haiti as informers in the assassination of several police officers. Usually for no more than $4 US dollars, these street children are instructed to go and observe where these police officers are stationed and report to them.
WATCH VIDEO: Haitian Street children used by gang as informers to kill Haitian Police
This particular child in the video admitted that he contributed in the assassination of five(5) Police Officers in the region of Croix-des-Bouquets and Ganthier. On the day he was captured by the Police, the child was working for a specific gang, observing and reporting the whereabouts some police. These well armed gangs have their base in Carrefour Marin, in Port-au-Prince
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