Work on cholera prevention in the Limbe’ region of Haiti has taken center stage for Helping Hands Noramise.

Founder and director Rosedanie Cadet began this effort in the first week of November 2010 when the outbreak there was just beginning to escalate. Since then, the Orcas resident has organized teams of volunteer residents who have gone door-to-door educating people in the need to purify drinking water, wash hands, and make every effort to improve sanitation. Through a connection with Haiti Village Health these volunteers have learned how to make chlorine and how to assemble simple water filtration systems. An excerpt from an email to Cadet from James Hudson of Haiti Village Health follows:

“Hi Rosedanie, How is the education going? We are trying to do our part for prevention here, but our clinic is overwhelmed with Cholera cases. We are trying to do our part to educate the city of Bas Limbe and to provide them with liquid chlorine, and are very concerned about the population there. If you can, educate, educate, educate, and use the machines to provide them with chlorine. Hope all is well and keep up the education, it is the key to preventing the deaths of thousands.”

In addition, Helping Hands Noramise (HHN) is working to educate people in the importance of good nutrition. Inadequate sources of protein and general malnutrition greatly increase vulnerability to the disease.

“As we pass the anniversary of the earthquake that devastated Port au Prince and the surrounding area, it is important to note that there most definitely is hope for a better life for the people of Haiti,” says Cadet. “The citizens of Orcas Island have stepped up in the past twelve months to give life to this hope. They have provided funding to enable us to rent a house that has become a vital hub for the people of Limbe’, they have contributed hard-earned dollars for everything from tires for the essential transportation vehicle to office equipment for the center. Important thoughts, time, goods, money have all flowed from Orcas Island to Haiti and have brought with them a strong message of hope and change. We thank each and every one of you on behalf of each and every Haitian.”

For more information, visit www.noramise.org.