Posted on November 18, 2010

Clinton Foundation Commits $1.5 Million to Help Haiti Combat Cholera Outbreak

The William J. Clinton Foundation has announced a $1.5 million commitment to help build Haiti's capacity to combat an outbreak of cholera that has claimed the lives of more than a thousand people to date.

In partnership with the Haitian Ministry of Health, the foundation will commit $1 million to train ten thousand community public health workers across the country and purchase ten thousand portable treatment packs for those in need. The kits will contain oral hydration salts, soap, aqua tabs, chlorine, hand sanitizer, garbage bags, educational material, and stationery.

The remaining $500,000 will support the implementation of an aggressive national education and awareness campaign. Over the coming weeks, the foundation will work with the Ministry of Health to identify a Haitian firm to execute the effort. Both projects will be presented to the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission.

"The recent outbreak of cholera is a devastating development for the people of Haiti, and serves as an important reminder of all that remains to be done in our work to help Haiti build back better after the earthquake," said former President Clinton. "The Clinton Foundation's commitment of $1.5 million will help expand treatment, care, and education to those who need it and ultimately limit the outbreak's severity and impact."