A 19-year-old woman who lost her home to the storm registers with Americares to receive medical help. Photo by Nadia Todres

In the wake of Hurricane Matthew’s devastating October 4 strike on Haiti, The Prem Rawat Foundation (TPRF) received an outpouring of donations earmarked to support people in the troubled Caribbean nation. TPRF used those donations to make a $5,000 grant to Americares, a long-term partner that already had a supportive presence on the ground.

Photo by Ashley Canchola

There was a tremendous need. In the hard-hit regions of Grand’Anse and Sud, more than 200,000 homes were severely damaged or destroyed. The overall death toll topped 1,000 and the United Nations estimated that 1.4 million people required humanitarian aid.

The TPRF funds went toward providing crucial healthcare and medications that saved lives. The grant, along with others, supported Mobile Medical Units that served 32,522 patients who had a long list of ailments, from dehydration to cholera.

One of those patients was 19-year-old Elizabeth (name changed for anonymity) who still lives with her parents in the ruins of their home. When it rains, they hurry to the public market for shelter. In December, when she became ill as a result of the horrendous conditions, a Mobile Medical Unit brought the doctors and medicine she needed to her doorstep in the remote town of Roche a Bateau. Americares is also in the process of rehabilitating several permanent healthcare clinics and working with Haitian officials to help manage a large national cholera treatment and prevention project.

“Thank you to TPRF for your generous support,” says Vicky Markham, Director of Foundation Partnership for Americares. “We really couldn’t do what we do without your valuable backing!”