Natural disasters like Hurricane Maria place women and children in the eye of a different kind of storm increasing their vulnerability to dangers ranging from complications during pregnancy and delivery to the need of oxygen for newborns. COHI has responded to 18 different humanitarian emergencies around the globe and is on the ground in Puerto Rico working direclty with local midwives, nurses, and physicians to provide medicines, care, and supplies.
Circle of Health International knows first hand how all too often the unique needs of women and children go unmet in the emergency phase of a natural disaster like Hurricane Maria, but also how once the immediate urgency has passed the dangers continue for vulnerable mothers and babies. Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico towards the end of an unprecedented hurricane season resulting in donor fatigue, leaving too many families in need without the support they need.
COHI is committed to providing direct clinical support through COHI volunteer clinicians funds to pay for medically related services and medicines, funds to help off set transport and relocation costs for local pregnant/expectant mothers and families with newborns, and repair/rebuilding costs to local birth and maternity centers as the recovery continues. COHI has already provided clinical volunteers since the storm, and provided 4000 pounds of essential medicines.
-5000 women and children provided with direct clinical care -5 cash grants given to local birth and maternity centers to help with disaster related costs -100 cash grants given to local pregnant/expectant mothers and families with newborns
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
