This Wall Street Journal article from last Friday just about sums up my feelings about Haiti interventions — the “Republic of NGOs.” Heartbreaking. NGOs may be perpetuating the very problems they seek to solve by “infantilizing” the country and its own government.
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Incorrect ORS Mixing Instructions on Posters in Haiti
Posters showing incorrect instructions for making an oral rehydration solution using salt, sugar and water are being widely distributed by the Ministry of Public Health and other organizations in Haiti.
Half (1/2) teaspoon of Salt and Six (6) teaspoons of Sugar should be dissolved in 1 Litre of water. (Not 1 Gallon of water as the poster says) For further clarification, please see: http://factsforlifeglobal.org/07/5.html
The mixture, using the proportions that are suggested in the poster, would be too weak to do much good in rehydrating a dehydrated child.
The following actions need to be taken immediately:
1. The current posters need to be withdrawn and replaced.
2. A communications campaign to inform everybody locally that the old poster had incorrect information and they should use 1 Litre and not 1 Gallon.
Your help is requested to inform everybody in Haiti of the correct way to make this life-saving solution.
Thank you.