Help Mountain Community Prep for Disasters

Bonswa GlobalGiving Family,

For 23 years, the makeshift road connecting our mountainside community and the town center of Petit-Goâve has been a dangerous and unreliable pathway. This road, composed of dirt and large boulders, posed significant risks to the over 1,200 families in our Mountainside Partner Community and neighboring communities. It was their only route to access essential services like local markets for conducting business and seeking medical care at the hospital. Additionally, the road was highly susceptible to mudslides during torrential downpours and hurricanes, leading to severe land devastation that negatively impacted agricultural production in these farming communities.

The Challenge: Unsafe Road Conditions

At a recent community meeting, the leader of our Mountainside Partner Community’s Peasant Association, APHD, captured the gravity of the situation:

“The inhabitants of the twelfth section of Fourques, particularly in localities like Marché Jean Ciseau, Marre Danjour, Piton Vallue, Clairin, Marché Roche Galata, and Marché Depalis, are facing enormous difficulties due to the lack of proper road infrastructure. This deficiency has restricted access to essential services such as health care and education. The poor state of the road has made it difficult to transport agricultural products to market, leading to economic hardship. During rainy periods, the road becomes impassable, causing frequent traffic accidents. Pregnant women, disabled individuals, schoolchildren, and farmers all struggle with mobility due to the road's condition, exacerbating the isolation of our community. The journey to Petit-Goâve remains a daunting task, with certain areas still inaccessible by motorcycle.”

Our Vision: Development With Dignity Leads To A Safer, Thriving Community

For over 14 years, our collective goal has been to create a safer road that not only facilitates travel for our Mountainside Partner Community and neighboring areas but also serves as a catalyst for economic development. Improving the road infrastructure is key to unlocking the potential of these communities, enabling them to thrive and grow.

Progress: Breaking Ground and Building Hope

In our November 2022 report, we shared that our Mountainside Partner Community had begun working on the road, breaking up the treacherous land and rock formations that made the terrain unsafe for cars or motorcycles.

At the beginning of 2024, the APHD Peasant Association initiated Phase 1 of the road construction: 150 linear meters of concrete strip road with essential drainage works. This crucial development will:

• Connect Mountain Communities to Local Markets: Improving access will allow farmers to sell their agricultural products more efficiently, boosting local economies.
• Generate Income for Farmers: A safer and more accessible road will increase sales opportunities and income for farmers.
• Ensure Safe Passage for Vehicles: The new road will allow cars and motorcycles to traverse the mountain safely, reducing the risk of accidents.
• Enhance Road Drainage: Effective drainage will prevent future mudslides and maintain the road's condition during heavy rains.
• Promote Community Development: The road will serve as a foundation for sustainable development projects in the area.
• Improve Living Conditions: Better access to markets, healthcare, and education will significantly enhance the quality of life for residents.

The Infrastructure/Economic Development Initiative is not just about building a road; it's about building a future for our mountainside and neighboring communities, ensuring they have the tools and opportunities to thrive.

Bonswa GlobalGiving Family,

We hope your 2024 is off to a great start. We would like to share a special thank you note with you from Responsabe Eugene Lapene, the Director of Association of Peasants Haut Dozième (APHD), the Peasant Association in our Mountainside Partner Community… “The members of the Association of Peasants Haut Dozième (APHD) thank you for your contribution to the development process of the community and takes this opportunity to thank you, because you have provided the materials needed as part of our preventive intervention against Cholera.” 

Your generous contributions in the fourth quarter of 2023, helped us send funds down to APHD so they could purchase medical and hygienic materials and conduct cholera prevention training in Petit-Goâve in schools and the marketplace. 

Nurse Ketlie Rathon compiled a comprehensive report breaking down cholera and the educational components addressed in the cholera intervention trainings APHD conducted in the community. Here are some excerpts from her report:  

• Definition Of Cholera:
• Cholera is a contagious disease caused by a bacterium called vibrio cholera, in French it is called vibrio cholerique or well bacille virgule and in English it is called cholera bacterium. Cholera is more frequent in countries that are developing, where hygiene conditions are not respected.
• What Causes Cholera: 
• The bacteria that causes cholera (vibrio cholerae) lodges in the intestine and causes severe diarrhea, vomiting, and when the person has too much water in the throat, they become dehydrated.
• How Can A Person Get Cholera: 
• Water - rainwater, water in rivers, bottled water, ice 
• Raw fish, oysters, dried fish, undercooked crabs, raw vegetables, coconut juice, fruits that are not washed well, leftover rice
• Signs And Symptoms:
• Moderate Cases - diarrhea, vomiting
• Severe Cases - fatigue, dehydration, the oxygen in the body will also decrease 
• Diagnostic:
• Laboratory tests to look for germs that cause cholera
• We can ask the patient questions based on the person's history and identify if it is cholera. There is also a quick test that can easily diagnose cholera, but this test is more useful in areas far from health centers or hospitals.
• Treatment: 
• The main treatment of cholera is to quickly replace the fluid that the patient is vomiting.
• The doctor or the nurse suggests that the patient drink a solution rich in water, sugar, and minerals.
• We must know that when the patient is quickly rehydrated, the mortality rate decreases to 1%.
• People At Most Risk Of Getting Cholera: 
• Young Children & The Elderly
• Complications: 
• Dehydration can make you fall into a state of shock. If it is not treated it can kill the person. 
• Advice: These tips will help us to take care of this disease faster:
• Always use treated water in preparing the serum (oral axel, sugar and water).
• Drink plenty of fluids during the acute phase and go 3 or 4 hours without food after drinking the serum.
• Do not take antibiotics without doctor's advice. Do not take medicine for diarrhea, it can increase the symptoms.
• Prevention: If we practice hygiene principles and apply all the advice, we will be able to control cholera by: 
• Drinking treated water
• Peeling fruit well
• Brushing your teeth with treated water
• Eating well-cooked food

APHD presenting these prevention workshops in 10 schools, 5 churches, and in the markets, as well as training 3 local peasant associations, resulted in providing cholera intervention & prevention trainings to over 2,000 people in the community. APHD has submitted a budget of $7,611.20 to C2C in order to continue their efforts to eradicate cholera from Petit-Goâve. Our focus is to raise these funds to ensure this intervention is not a one time exception, but a part of continuous care. Mesi Anpil! ~ Thank You Very Much!