Tips - Haiti Observer Blog

The Haiti government is now worried about the health effects of the recent flooding caused by Hurricane Sandy. Officials earlier aired concerns over possible outbreaks of cholera and other diseases. This is the reason why officials and charity organizations are focusing on the health of people affected by the floods, which killed dozens of people and damaged crops late last month.

Flooding can trigger an outbreak of communicable diseases. It increases the risk of transmitting the diseases from one person to another until an outbreak occurs. Unsanitary condition, which is often the result of flooding, also contributes to this risk.

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Storms not only can cause flooding but can also cut off electricity and down power lines. When this happens, it can be very dangerous for people as they can be electrified and injured. This is the reason why it is necessary for anyone to know what to do when there are downed power lines, especially during a storm or any other disasters.

It is best to consider any down power lines dangerous and energized. The best thing to do when you encounter a downed power line is to get away from it. Make sure that you have at least 10 feet of space between you and the power line, as electricity can be transmitted through the ground.

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The 2010 earthquake that demolished Haiti's infrastructure robbed the poorest Haitians of what little they had, homes that were nothing more than hovels. Thrown into the streets of Port-au-Prince with no access to toilets, sanitation virtually did not exist. Having no clean potable water added to the misery.

Nine months following the January earthquake, in October 2010, a cholera epidemic took hold of Port-au-Prince, largely affecting those living in tent cities. These cities are still filled today with earthquake survivors, and cholera cases have increased noticeably since early 2012.

The United States Department of State has kept a travel advisory in place since the earthquake, cautioning American citizens to stay away from Haiti. With the exception of necessary business travel or humanitarian work, Americans are advised not to visit Haiti.
But others claim the majority of travelers to Haiti are not likely to contract cholera. However, they recommend a cholera prevention kit as a precautionary measure:

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Cholera, a severe bacterial infection, affects the intestines, causing bouts of watery diarrhea, heaving, circulatory distress, and shock. Anyone can contract cholera, the exception being nursing infants. But there are particular contributors that can predispose people to the illness:

Malnutrition. People who are starving have a propensity to catching cholera. The illness takes hold in places where survivors of war or natural disasters live. Or in communities that suffer famine.

Low levels of stomach acid. Inadequate levels of stomach acid create an environment for cholera bacteria to flourish in. Age groups that have low-acidity markers are children and aged people. Gastric surgery survivors and antacid takers, suffering from ulcers, are also prone to getting cholera.

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Cholera, a potentially fatal disease in some cases affects the intestinal tract. Some forms of cholera are symptom-less, or exhibit only moderate signs of the illness. The onset of cholera symptoms happens within a 24- to 48-hour period. Typical signs of having contracted cholera include diarrhea, vomiting, and muscle cramps. In moderate cases, normally healthy people experience spontaneous and extreme amounts of watery diarrhea between one and five days of consuming food containing the Vibrio cholerae bacterium.

In extreme cases of cholera, which afflicts one out of twenty people, diarrhea is accompanied by vomiting and muscle cramps. These symptoms come on quickly, and excessive loss of body fluids caused by diarrhea will bring on dehydration. Dehydration may lead to shock. If this extreme form of cholera is left untreated, a person can die within a few short hours.

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Abduction, a form of kidnapping, is often associated with family abduction. Family abduction occurs when a child is taken by force away from their family. Frequently the perpetrator is a parent, who has been involved in a child custody dispute with their former partner.

The legal definition of abduction is a coercive act performed in defiance of a custody order. In some cases, family abductions are carried out surreptitiously. They begin when a parent or anyone acting in their place uses pretext to get possession of the child, for instance, taking the child for an outing and never returning them. The perpetrator hides the child, taking them over state lines to keep the victim-parent away from their child. The objective of abduction is to get illegal custody of the child, violating the primary caretaker's rights.

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An AMBER Alert is an urgent bulletin put out when a family abduction has taken place. Issued across all forms of media, it gives the physical description of both child and perpetrator. Along with the physical characteristics of perpetrator and victim, the license plate number and make and model of the crime vehicle is also included.

AMBER Alerts use the Emergency Alert System to broadcast to news, on-air, and Internet media outlets. Other outlets include electronic highway billboards and other billboard entities such as Clear Channel.

The responsibility of issuing an AMBER Alert usually comes under the jurisdiction of highway patrol or state trooper agencies, which involve themselves in investigation of the abduction.

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In order to reduce the likelihood of a renewed outbreak of cholera. For the general population, the basics of cholera prevention are re-emphasized:

• use soap and water to disinfect hands before preparation of food, and during the consumption of it.
• disinfect plates, glasses, forks, knives, and spoons with hot water.
• disinfect hands after using toilet facilities.
• boil or disinfect possibly contaminated water.
• use disinfected water only for household tasks.

Because many poorer Haitians don't understand good sanitation habits, the Ministry of Health issues a stern warning to avoid defecating on the ground. And to also avoid defecation near bodies of water, natural or man-made.

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Your appearance is always important when it comes to business. Keep in mind that the way you dress can affect people's impression on you. This is why knowing the proper way to dress at work is essential if you want to project a certain professional image.

Many Haitians deal with businessmen around the globe and it is important to earn their respect. In order to do so, dressing properly and behaving like a professional can actually further your career in the country.

People working in the rural areas in Haiti tend to dress more casually than those in the urban parts. The dress code for both areas might be slightly different but one common thing is that shorts are not allowed in the business world. It is best for men to wear a pair of slacks, a shirt and a tie. Women, on the other hand, can go for a blazer and pants suits or skirt.

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Communicating with different kinds of people, especially in the business world, requires excellent interpersonal skills. Many Haitian professionals make use of eye contact to convey their sincerity and interest in doing business with other parties. Though lower-class Haitians tend to avoid direct eye contact with people they see as superior to them, professionals value this form of communication.

Through eye contact, one can earn the respect of the other party. It also helps a businessman become more persuasive and convincing. A businessman who makes eye contact with his client suggests that he is serious, interested and focused on their discussion. This is important when doing business.

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