PWW teams in Haiti and Honduras continue essential safe hygiene education outreach to help vulnerable populations as COVID-19 spreads.
Important to note: The work being done by PWW teams, in response to this crisis, is not simply a short-term band-aid. Decisions are being carefully considered with the objective of building upon our existing hygiene education programs and materials, expanding our reach through new channels, which PWW teams will continue to use long after the threat of COVID-19 has diminished.
PWW GAME: Who’s Behind the Mask?
Can you name these PWW team members? A fun game to lighten your week.
Click here to see PWW team members with their masks. Guess who each person is, then leave your name and email at the bottom of the page. Guess the most to win a special PWW prize! Game closes end of day Monday, April 20th.
Honduras
The team in Honduras is very busy, in spite of stay-at-home requirements and shutdowns in response to COVID-19.
In Trojes, the team has been given authority by local government officials to leave their homes and place posters for mask-wearing and handwashing in key locations designated essential, including pharmacies, grocery markets, health clinics and banks.
The team has also been asked to consult on and support the construction of four emergency latrines for public use in the town of Trojes (the capital city of the Trojes region). These latrines will remain in place, continuing to support the local community members, after the pandemic response has subsided. We will update you about this project in the coming weeks.
The WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) Training and Consulting team members are busy working at their homes, transforming in-person training programs into webinars so they can continue to reach teachers and other key constituents with essential hygiene training programs that include, among other health and hygiene topics, training about proper handwashing and menstrual hygiene management. The good news is that, while these webinars are being created in response to COVID-19, once completed these webinars will continue to be usable to extend the reach of these training programs long after the shutdowns are over.
PWW is also working closely with partner, UNICEF, and several other organizations to develop a comprehensive emergency WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) response plan that can help with the current situation and will be in place for unforeseen future emergencies.
As of today, April 16, the numbers in Honduras continue to rise, with 426 reported cases and 35 confirmed deaths. Please keep the people of Honduras in your thoughts.
Haiti
Public Service Announcements (PSAs) on both television and radio are continuing to air. These messages share details about safety techniques and teach how to build a TipiTap handwashing station at home. (see blog from last week for details)
PWW team members are continuing to share these important safety messages, including proper handwashing technique and social distancing measures, with Community Agents and school teachers. Community Agents and school teachers will, in turn, share these messages across their respective communities. Posters, like those being distributed in Honduras, are being created for distribution in Haiti. PWW team members are also busy using their skills to make masks for others (see Laura right).
As of today, there are 41 reported cases of COVID-19 and 3 reported deaths, with severely limited testing. Please keep the people of Haiti in your thoughts.
You can help. Your financial support during this critical time will help to ensure our ability to maintain staff and bring critical, life-saving hygiene education and resources to people in need. Donate here.
Generosity abounds. Donations are being matched! A long-time supporter of PWW is matching $10,000 in donations. If you feel inspired, please consider a gift of just $10, $15, or $25 to keep our teams doing this critical work. Thank you!
NOTE: The newly released CARES Act allows for non-itemizer deductions of up to $300 for 2020 (claimed on tax forms next year) and lifts the existing 60% income cap on annual contributions for those who itemize in 2020. It also raises the annual limit for corporate donations from 10 percent to 25 percent. Please consult your tax advisor for more details.