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COHI is on the Ground in Haiti Today! 
As you know, Circle of Health International (COHI) is working hard to make sure that the devastating earth quake in Haiti does not have a similarly devastating effect on women's health in the region and to address women's vital health needs in the aftermath of the disaster. The first of our team, made up of volunteer women's health care providers and public health professionals, left for Haiti on Tuesday, January 19th. They will lay the groundwork for COHI's overall efforts in Haiti by liaising with people on the ground, completing a Rapid Health Assessment to identify and begin addressing critical women's health needs, and otherwise set the scene for a coordinated COHI initiative to make sure that women's health needs don't fall through the cracks as the world responds to this crisis. Before the earthquake, Haiti already had the highest maternal mortality rate in the Western Hemisphere, with 607 women per 100,000 dying in childbirth. The current disaster has only compounded existing problems, and the UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund estimates that the three million people affected by the crisis include as many as 37,000 pregnant women. COHI's experience in other crisis and conflict areas has taught us that the needs of these women do not go away in crisis situations, but become magnified, and can easily become a matter of life or death. Furthermore, we know that during times of such tragedy and unrest, rates of sexual assault and domestic violence escalate further endangering the lives of women in such settings. COHI pledges to do everything in its power to prevent further worsening of women's health status and to ensure these vital needs are met. The team that left on Tuesday is our first step! Though we will be depending on our initial team to gather the information we need to respond as effectively as possible, we anticipate sending three rounds of volunteers, including women's health practitioners and public health professionals. These individuals will work with local organizations and use their expertise to respond to women's most urgent needs. As our team arrives on the ground, we still have not met our fundraising goal. Financial donations are needed, both to serve the women affected by the disaster and to ensure the safety and security of our dedicated volunteers. Donations can be made by visiting cohintl.org and donating through Paypal, making sure to add to the "Add special instructions to the seller" field the following text: "Haiti Relief 2010." Though financial donations are most helpful due to limited baggage carrying capacity, we are also seeking donations of medical/midwifery supplies. If you have supplies to donate, please email info[at]cohintl.org. Please consider sharing this urgent appeal with your friends and family so that we can fully support our team and the women of Haiti. With thoughts of those in Haiti, Leilani Johnson, MPH |