Haiti Earthquake Victims and Volunteers Face Clean Water Issues

Water Safety, Access, Still Major Concern

BALTIMORE- 1/19/10—Six days after the magnitude 7.0 earthquake rocked Haiti the health and sanitation situation is still less than optimal in the makeshift camps. "Access to shelter, sanitation, water, food and medical care remains extremely limited," announced Riccardo Conti on a bulletin yesterday from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC's). Conti is ICRC’s head of delegation in Haiti.

Medical facilities in Port-au-Prince still lack staff and medicine and access to clean water is an issue for victims as well as Haiti earthquake volunteers. Passport Health, the leading provider of travel medical services and vaccinations, and Hydro-Photon, maker of SteriPEN portable water purifiers, are joining together to support Operation USA in its efforts to assist victims of the Haitian earthquake. OP USA is an international relief agency that helps communities at home and abroad overcome the effects of disasters, disease and endemic poverty by providing privately-funded relief, reconstruction and development aid. Since 1979, the Los Angeles-based nonprofit has worked in 99 countries, delivering over $350 million for relief and development projects.

“Hydro-Photon will provide quantities of its SteriPEN water purifiers to help protect the health of relief workers and earthquake victims on the ground in Haiti,” announced Miles Maiden, CEO of Hydro-Photon. SteriPEN utilizes ultraviolet light to destroy bacteria, viruses and protozoa in seconds, helping to prevent water-borne illness. Operation USA supports several field organizations, including Doctors Without Borders, Partners in Health and World Vision, all of which are presently working to improve conditions in Haiti. Please support its efforts through donations at www.opusa.org.

“The task facing humanitarian organizations is overwhelming," said Fran Lessans, CEO of Passport Health. Passport Health keeps up-to date health alerts for all international volunteers. “Water is essential, but clean water is scarce and volunteers have to take precautions with water purification devices so that they do not become ill while helping others,” she added. “We stand behind our partners Hydro-Photon and Doctors Without borders and encourage you to donate to Operation USA.

Passport Health will make recommendations for vaccines, portable water purifiers, and food, water and mosquito-borne illnesses for each volunteer. Clean water is an issue right now,” she concluded.

Passport Health is reaching out to all volunteer and relief organizations and is offering extended hours throughout their national network of clinics. Passport Health will also come on-site for departing volunteer groups.

Follow Passport Health on for the latest updates.

Jorge Eduardo Castillo
Jorge.castillo@passporthealthusa.com
410.727.0556

Michael Griffin
Mgriffin@steripen.com
781.789.7727

Passport Health and Hydro-Photon Team up to help Haiti

Baltimore, MD- 1/18/2010--Passport Health, a leading provider of travel medical services, and Hydro-Photon, maker of SteriPEN portable water purifiers, are joining together to support Operation USA in its efforts to assist victims of the Haitian earthquake. OP USA is an international relief agency that helps communities at home and abroad overcome the effects of disasters, disease and endemic poverty by providing privately-funded relief, reconstruction and development aid. Since 1979, the Los Angeles-based Operation USA has worked in 99 countries, delivering over $350 million for relief and development projects.

Hydro-Photon will provide quantities of its SteriPEN water purifiers to help protect the health of relief workers and earthquake victims on the ground in Haiti. SteriPEN utilizes ultraviolet light to destroy waterborne microbes, bacteria, viruses and protozoa in seconds, helping to prevent water-borne illness. Whether your water source is a desert oasis, a tropical stream or a freshwater lake, SteriPEN purifies clear water in the most remote environments by destroying viruses, bacteria and protozoa—including Giardia and Cryptosporidium—in seconds. The SteriPen is available at most Passport Health Locations.

Operation USA supports several field organizations, including Doctors Without Borders, Partners in Health and World Vision, all of which are presently working to improve conditions in Haiti. Please support its efforts through donations at www.opusa.org.

Major Earthquake Devastates Haiti: Passport Health Can Help

Baltimore,MD-1/13/2010--Volunteers traveling to Haiti to help with relief efforts need to use extreme caution to avoid disease and injury. Watch out for food and water borne-illness (such as Typhoid, Hep A) and be sure that you are up to date on all adult immunizations, especially Tetanus, as you will be encountering hazardous conditions with clean up of the island. Passport Health has all the above immunizations in stock and a Travel Medicine Specialist will review your health history to determine if you need any additional immunizations.

We also have supplies that can help you in your efforts, such as: First Aid Kit, Wound Care Kit, Foam Hand Sanitizer, Antiseptic Towelettes, Ceralyte (for Dehydration) and several choices for water purification.

We will come to you! Passport Health is reaching out to all volunteer and relief organizations and is offering extended ours throughout their national network of clinics. Call your nearest Passport Health Location today and we will work with your schedule to get you in to our office as soon as possible. Have a whole group going to help?Passport Health will also come on-site for departing volunteer groups.

Passport Health supports your efforts for helping the victims and families of this horrible tragedy.

Haiti Earthquake Mobilizes Relief Workers Donations, Volunteers Needed

BALTIMORE- 1/13/10—The most powerful earthquake ever recorded in Haiti’s history devastated parts of the island Tuesday. “We are saddened by the news and extend our condolences to those affected by this earthquake,” said Fran Lessans, CEO of Passport Health, the nation’s leading provider of travel medical services and immunizations. “Our priority right now is to make sure that Haiti Earthquake volunteers take adequate measures so that they do not succumb to illness,” she added. Passport Health keeps up-to date health alerts for all international volunteers.
Passport Health is encouraging everyone to help out any way they can. Passport Health (www.passporthealthusa.com) has added a link on their website to allow direct donations to Doctors Without Borders (MSF), an international medical humanitarian organization working in more than 60 countries to assist people whose survival is threatened by violence, neglect, or catastrophe. MSF’s clinics have been damaged by this earthquake and teams are setting up clinics to treat those who are injured.

According to a MSF senior staff member "the situation is chaotic.” Many medical centers and one major hospitals are not functioning."

“There is a great need for volunteers,” continued Lessans. “Precautionary measures to consider when entering areas affected by the Hatian Earthquake include:
Up-to-date vaccinations:

• Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertusis (TDaP)
• Hepatitis A and B
• Typhoid Fever
• Water Purification Devices
• Wound Care Kits
• Anti-Diarrhea Prophylaxes, Medications, and oral rehydration solutions

“Passport Health will make recommendations for vaccines, portable water purifiers, and food, water and mosquito-borne illnesses for each volunteer. In these situations conditions are less than sanitary and we want to make sure no one gets sick while trying to help others. Clean water is an issue right now,” she concluded.

Passport Health is reaching out to all volunteer and relief organizations and is offering extended hours throughout their national network of clinics. Passport Health will also come on-site for departing volunteer groups.


Jorge Eduardo Castillo
Jorge.castillo@passporthealthusa.com
410.727.0556