Since the Haiti earthquake which occurred last week, Tuesday January 12th 2009, many people have been offering help , in various shapes and forms (including celebrities with million dollar donations), to aid the tens of thousands of victims who are now homeless, hungry and, in many cases, in need of medical attention. As is the case following any natural disaster, it is women and children who are at the greatest risk – from disease, infection, lack of food, neglect and dangers such as sexual violence, abuse and exploitation
How Haiti's pregnant mothers are surviving
Even before the Haiti earthquake, the island nation of Haiti had one of the world's highest maternity mortality rates, with a substantial lack of health care; since the earthquake, there have been reports of many of Haiti's estimated 37,000 pregnant women giving birth in the street, with no access to health care. In addition, new mothers are forced to breastfeed days old babies on the street. With a very real threat of many of these pregnant mothers not surviving, a devastated Haiti becomes home to orphaned children, where it is estimated that half of the population is currently under 18 years old.
CARE working to help the women and children of Haiti
CARE is one of the world's biggest humanitarian aid agencies which specifically concentrates on helping women in the areas of education, health and economic development in some of the world's poorest countries; a woman is vital to the social and economic future of both family and community. CARE has been working in Haiti since 1954 and has 130 staff in Haiti.
CARE has responded to the Haiti earthquake disaster by partnering with the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) by providing infant kits for young babies and new mothers, water purification tablets, sanitary napkins and panties for women and food. However, unless many of these women receive medical care in the near future, CARE believes many pregnant women and new mothers will die from pregnancy complications compounded by the situation in Haiti.
To find out more about CARE and how to help visit the CARE website.
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