January 18, 2010

Outside the damaged American Red Cross office in Croix Deprez, volunteers from Haiti and around the world are working side-by-side to clean and stitch wounds amidst the earthquake's rubble. Outreach teams are also traveling through the neighborhood camps today, providing basic relief items, such as tarps, blankets, jerry cans for water and hygiene supplies. "Groups of Haitian Red Cross youth volunteers will comb the worst-hit neighborhoods, street by street, promoting safe hygiene practices and encouraging people to come to the first aid posts," said Winnie Romeril, a volunteer with the American Red Cross in Haiti. American Red Cross President & CEO Gail McGovern is in the Dominican Republic, meeting with other Red Cross and government leaders today to help coordinate a global response to unprecedented need in Haiti. On Tuesday, she will travel to Haiti to visit American Red Cross relief distribution points. Full release.

An urgent aid shipment containing 4,000 tents and more than 300 family survival kits has just docked at the Haitian coastal town of Jacmel. Jacmel, 30 miles southwest of Haiti's capital city of Port-au-Prince, has been devastated by the recent earthquake with more than 350 people reported to have been killed and many more injured. Preliminary assessments estimate that 60 percent of buildings were damaged or destroyed. An emergency response team from Plan International, a child-centered development organization, which has worked with Haitian communities for more than 35 years, is actively assessing the immediate needs of the population, many of whom are still camping out in the streets. Plan International spokesperson Stuart Coles, who arrived in Jacmel after an arduous 12-hour journey from Port-au-Prince by road, said the race was on to get aid to those who were most in need. "As Jacmel is on the coast, it is easier to get aid in than it is in Port-au-Prince. The quake has destroyed or damaged most buildings here, but mercifully the death count is lower than it is in the capital," he said. Full release.

CARE's disaster-response teams find themselves in a race against time in earthquake-ravaged Haiti, coaching survivors how to purify contaminated water and preparing hygiene kits to help prevent a secondary crisis: the outbreak of disease. The Haitian capital lacks sewer infrastructure. And the massive quake ruptured water lines, creating a perfect formula for the spread of water-borne disease, particularly as those left homeless are forced into close quarters with limited options for sanitation. Safe water is crucial for every survivor of Tuesday's quake – but especially for pregnant women, new mothers, and small children, said Dr. Franck Geneus, coordinator of CARE's health program in Haiti. Some 37,000 pregnant women in the disaster zone are in desperate need of food, clean drinking water and/or access to health care. "We are concerned that women may stop breastfeeding because they do not have enough food or water themselves," Geneus said. "That poses a huge risk to newborns." Full release.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today called on local, state and national law enforcement agencies to investigate an apparently bias-motivated act of vandalism at the site of a proposed Tennessee mosque as a hate crime. Over the weekend, a sign marking the future site of the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro was spray-painted with the words "not welcome." "As our nation celebrates the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we must come together in a spirit of mutual respect and tolerance, not of hatred or division," said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad. "This apparent attempt to divide our nation along religious lines should be investigated as a hate crime and must be repudiated by all those who respect the principle of religious diversity." He noted a Tennessee man was sentenced last November to more than 14 years in prison for burning down the Islamic Center of Columbia, Tenn. Nazi swastikas and the phrase "White Power" were painted on the mosque's walls. Full release.

Attorney General Eric Holder released the following statement today in recognition of Martin Luther King Day: "Each year, Martin Luther King Day provides an opportunity for all Americans to rededicate ourselves to Dr. King's dream of racial, social and economic justice. Today is also a reminder of the power and importance of service to others. Dr. King's example, and his enduring legacy, offer proof that the contributions of a single person can help to improve and inspire an entire nation. "Without question, there are great needs to be met in America and beyond. Just this week, with the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti, we have been reminded that the work of helping others often extends beyond our borders. In the aftermath of this disaster, the outpouring of compassion, resources and relief-delivery efforts from across our country are evidence that, even during tough economic times, the American spirit of giving remains strong. "One of the most meaningful ways we can give life to Dr. King's dreams is by seeking out opportunities to serve and empower others. Today, I am volunteering with DC's Youth Service Opportunities Project to serve breakfast to the homeless. I encourage everyone who has a holiday from work or class to help make sure that Martin Luther King Day is not simply a 'day off,' it is truly a 'day on.' Together, we can ensure it becomes a day of national service and an occasion to carry on Dr. King's work today and into the future." Full release.

Though volunteering through organizations has remained stable in the last several years, a new report from AARP finds that informal service work among baby boomers and others 45+ is on the rise. According to the report, the number of boomers and older Americans engaged in self-directed volunteering—volunteering on their own, outside of a formal organization—increased from 34 percent in 2003 to 57 percent in 2009. Additionally, seven in 10 boomers reported they are engaged in volunteering either on their own or through an organization, which is a 20 percent increase over the number of people who say they volunteer through an organization alone. "We have long known that baby boomers stand ready to serve, but this data gives us new information about how they are serving," said Thomas C. Nelson, AARP Chief Operating Officer. "As AARP works to activate Boomers and older Americans, we continue to track these trends so that collectively, the service community can better meet the needs of everyone interested in giving back." Full release.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is today warning consumers about a counterfeit and potentially harmful version of Alli 60 mg capsules (120 count refill kit). Preliminary laboratory tests conducted by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) -- the maker of the FDA-approved over-the-counter weight-loss product -- revealed that the counterfeit version did not contain orlistat, the active ingredient in its product. Instead, the counterfeit product contained the controlled substance sibutramine. Sibutramine is a drug that should not be used in certain patient populations or without physician oversight. Sibutramine can also interact in a harmful way with other medications the consumer may be taking. Consumers began reporting suspected counterfeit Alli to GSK in early December 2009. GSK has determined that the counterfeit product has been sold over the internet. However, there is no evidence at this time that the counterfeit Alli product has been sold through other channels, such as retail stores. Full release.

The same spirit of compassion and generosity that has driven an extraordinary outpouring of support for Haitian relief will today be directed at tackling pressing problems at home, as hundreds of thousands of Americans will join in volunteer service projects across the country as part of the annual Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service. President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will join cabinet secretaries, elected officials, nonprofit and business leaders, and Americans of all ages and backgrounds in rolling up their sleeves to honor Dr. King's legacy through service. The Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency that has led the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service since 1994, anticipates strong turnout across the country, with more than 10,000 service projects (http://www.nationalservice.gov/about/newsroom/releases_detail.asp?tbl_pr_id=1607) planned in all 50 states that will address a multitude of pressing social issues from poverty and hunger to homelessness and the dropout crisis. Some organizations are using their projects to raise funds for relief organizations helping in Haitian recovery efforts. Full release.

CARE warned Saturday that pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and young children are at greatest risk in the wake of an earthquake that has devastated the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince and left nearly three million people in need of assistance. There are an estimated 37,000 pregnant women among the affected population in urgent need of safe drinking water, food and medical care. Half of Haiti's population is younger than 18 years old. Hospitals and medical centers have been destroyed, and remaining centers are overwhelmed treating people injured from the quake. With limited or no access to health facilities, pregnant women are at an even greater risk of complications and death related to pregnancy and childbirth. Haiti already has the highest rate of maternal mortality in the region: 670 deaths per 100,000 live births. "There are a lot of pregnant women in the streets, and mothers breastfeeding new babies," said Sophie Perez, country director for CARE in Haiti. "There are also women giving birth in the street, directly in the street. The situation is very critical. Women try to reach the nearest hospital, but as most of the hospitals are full, it's very difficult for them to receive the appropriate care. Mothers and their babies could die from complications without medical care." Full release.

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