Haiti Political Blog

Par Jean Erich René

Dans un proche avenir les populations sinistrées vont faire face à de grandes difficultés, surtout sur les plans sanitaire et alimentaire. Des maladies de toutes sortes et la famine entre autres seront leurs lots. Ces mares d’eau boueuses dans lesquelles elles pataugent pullulent de bactéries et d’autres agents pathogènes. Une couverture sanitaire doit être offerte dans l’immédiat pour prévenir les cas d’infection et de contamination. La vaccination préventive contre la typhoïde est fortement recommandée. Déjà la gent féminine est victime de l’eau polluée utilisée pour leur toilette intime. L’’infection vaginale, signalée comme l’une des premières retombées de la tragédie de l’après cyclone, risque d’éclater certains ménages. Un kit sanitaire doit être prévu spécialement pour les soins corporels des femmes.

La carence alimentaire qui s’en suit, à cause de la destruction des jardins, va déboucher sur une famine sans précédent. Il faut au moins 3 mois pour la reprise de la production agricole. Entre-temps nos champs ne peuvent rien produire. Cette rareté des produits alimentaires sera ressentie à la fois dans nos communautés rurales et pis encore dans les villes et à la Capitale. Selon la loi de l’offre et de la demande, toute baisse de quantités d’un bien entraîne automatiquement la montée de son prix. Donc il est évident qu’on va assister à une flambée des prix avec la rareté des produits de première nécessité. Ventre affamé n’a point d’oreille. On peut tout arrêter excepté la violence des vagues de la mer, du vent, d’une rivière en crue et pis encore la turbulence des tripes d’une population affamée dont les nerfs sont à fleur de peau.

La faim est mauvaise conseillère, dit-on. Le Gouvernement Préval Pierre Louis doit remuer ciel et terre pour donner à manger à 8.924.553 habitants. Il ne suffit pas de solliciter l’aide internationale, il faut savoir aussi la canaliser avec justesse et équité. Pour éviter une éventuelle émeute de la faim les produits suivants doivent être distribués: maïs moulu, millet, riz, haricot, farine, huile de cuisine. Ils répondent non seulement aux habitudes alimentaires de la population haïtienne mais encore ils se prêtent mieux à la conservation. Il ne s’agit pas seulement de gaver nos compatriotes de nourriture, on doit aussi respecter les normes diététiques selon le standard de l’OMS: 2200 calories et 60 grammes de protéines par jour pour chaque individu. Pour une diète bien équilibrée, il importe de faire l’inventaire des valeurs nutritives des aliments cités pour 100 grammes.

Riz: 361 Calories, Protéines: 7.1
Mais moulu: 363 Calories, Protéines: 7.9
AK 100: 337 Calories, Protéines: 14.1
Millet:342 Calories, Protéines: 8.8
Pois rouge et noir: 337 Calories, Protéines: 22.0
Farine : 364 Calories, Protéines : 10.6
Huile de cuisine: 884 calories

Souvent le Gouvernement ne dispose d’aucune base de données et se contente de chiffres purement forfaitaires. Selon une enquête statistique sur les habitudes alimentaires et la consommation per capita en Haïti, les quantités de nourriture suivantes doivent être entreposées rapidement pour être livrées dans tous nos Départements géographiques.

Calcul de la moyenne des besoins alimentaires, en sacs de 100 livres et gallons de 2,9 livres pour 3 mois par Département géographique.

Artibonite:
Maïs moulu:8.352 sacs, Millet: 21.192 sacs, Riz: 72.696 sacs, Haricot:
44.568 sacs, huile de cuisine: 493.860 gallons

Centre: Maïs moulu:4.410 sacs, Millet:11.190 sacs, Riz: 38.376 sacs, Haricot:
23.526 sacs, huile de cuisine: 260.700 gallons

Grande Anse:
Maïs moulu: 4.710 sacs, Millet:11.958 sacs, Riz: 41.016 sacs, Haricot:
25.146 sacs, huile de cuisine: 278.622 gallons

Nord:
Maïs moulu:6.036 sacs, Millet: 15.318 sacs, Riz: 52.542 sacs, Haricot:
32.208 sacs, huile de cuisine : 356.898 gallons

Nord-est:
Maïs moulu: 2.346 sacs, Millet:5.952 sacs, Riz: 20.412 sacs, Haricot:
12.510 sacs, huile de cuisine : 138.642 gallons

Nord-ouest
Maïs moulu: 3.474 sacs, Millet:8.814 sacs, Riz:30.228 sacs, Haricot: 18.534 sacs, huile de cuisine: 205.350 gallons

Ouest:
Maïs moulu:24.132 sacs, Millet: 61.254 sacs, Riz: 210.120 sacs, Haricot:
128.820 sacs, huile de cuisine: 1.427.364 gallons

Sud:
Maïs moulu: 4.896 sacs, Millet:12.420 sacs, Riz: 42.606 sacs, Haricot:
26.124 sacs, huile de cuisine : 289.428 gallons

Sud-est:
Maïs moulu:3.504 sacs, Millet: 8.904 sacs, Riz: 30.534 sacs, Haricot:
18.120 sacs, huile de cuisine :207.432 gallons

Demande totale pour Haïti pour 3 mois:

Maïs moulu: 61.860 sacs,
Millet: 157.272 sacs,
Riz: 538.530 sacs,
Haricot: 330.156
huile de cuisine :3.658.296 gallons.

N.B. Le riz, le maïs et le millet sont des substituts c’est-à-dire à défaut de l’un on cumule 2 autres céréales pour obtenir la quantité nécessaire.

L’après cyclone sera secoué par une grande commotion sociale si le Gouvernement ne tente pas au moins d’apaiser la faim des populations affectées. Il faut profiter de cette fièvre de dons en faveur des sinistrés pour engranger suffisamment d’aliments au moins pour une période de 3 mois.

By Marc Lacey
Published: April 17, 2008
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/04/17/news/Haiti.php

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti: Hunger bashed in the front gate of Haiti’s presidential palace. Hunger poured onto the streets, burning tires and taking on soldiers and police. Hunger sent the country’s prime minister packing.

Haiti’s hunger, that burn in the belly that so many here feel, has become fiercer than ever in recent days as global food prices spiral out of reach, spiking as much as 45 percent since the end of 2006 and turning Haitian staples such as beans, corn and rice into closely guarded treasures.

Saint Louis Meriska’s children ate two spoonfuls of rice apiece as their only meal two days ago and then went without any food the following day. His eyes downcast, his own stomach empty, the unemployed father said forlornly, “They look at me and say, ‘Papa, I’m hungry,’ and I have to look away. It’s humiliating and it makes you angry.”

That anger is palpable across the globe. The food crisis not only is being felt among the poor, but also is eroding the gains of the working and middle classes, sowing volatile levels of discontent and putting new pressures on fragile governments.

In Cairo, the military is being put to work baking bread as rising food prices threaten to become the spark that ignites wider anger at a repressive government. In Burkina Faso and other parts of sub-Saharan Africa, food riots are breaking out like never before. And in reasonably prosperous Malaysia, the ruling coalition was nearly ousted by disgruntled voters who cited food and fuel hikes as their primary concerns.

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“It’s the worst crisis of its kind in more than 30 years,” said Jeffrey Sachs, the economist and special adviser to the United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki Moon. “It’s a big deal, and it’s obviously threatening a lot of governments. There are a number of governments on the ropes and I think there’s more political fallout to come.”

Indeed, as it roils developing nations, the spike in commodity prices - the biggest since the administration of Richard Nixon - has pitted the globe’s poorer south against the relatively wealthy north, adding to demands for reform of rich nations’ farm and environmental policies.

But experts say there are few quick fixes to a crisis tied to so many factors, such as strong demand for food from emerging economies like China’s; rising oil prices; and the diversion of food resources to make biofuels.

There are no scripts on how to handle the crisis, either. In Asia, governments are putting in place measures to limit hoarding of rice after some shoppers panicked at price rises and bought up everything they could.
Even in Thailand, which produces 10 million more tons of rice than it consumes and is the world’s largest rice exporter, supermarkets have placed signs limiting the amount of rice shoppers are allowed to buy.

“This is a perfect storm,” President Elias Antonio Saca of El Salvador said Wednesday at the World Economic Forum on Latin America in Cancún, Mexico. “How long can we withstand the situation? We have to feed our people and commodities are becoming scarce. This scandalous storm might become a hurricane that could upset not only our economies, but also the stability of our countries.”

In Asia, if Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi of Malaysia steps down, which is looking increasingly likely amid post-election turmoil within his party, he may be that region’s first high-profile political victim of fuel and food price inflation.

In Indonesia, fearing protests, the government recently revised its 2008 budget, increasing the amount it will spend on food subsidies by 2.7 trillion rupiah, or about $280 million.

“The biggest concern is food riots,” said H.S. Dillon, a former adviser to the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture. Referring to small but widespread protests sparked by a rise in soybean prices in January, he said, “It has happened in the past and can happen again.”

Last month in Senegal, one of Africa’s oldest and most stable democracies, police officers in riot gear beat and used tear gas against people protesting high food prices and later raided a television station that broadcast images of the event.

Many Senegalese have expressed anger at the government of President Abdoulaye Wade for spending lavishly on roads and five-star hotels for an Islamic summit that took place last month while many people are unable to afford rice, fish and cooking oil.

“Why are these riots happening?” asked Arif Husain, senior food security analyst at the World Food Program, which has issued urgent appeals for donations to help the Haitis of the world. “The human instinct is to survive and people are going to do no matter.

Starting at the Bottom

For most things in life, be it a work project, a school assignment, or a home repair task, the best thing to do is to start at the top and work your way down. This usually ensures that everything will get done one time and correctly. Unfortunately, this is not that way that body cleansing should work. The best thing to do when you begin detoxifying your body is to start at the bottom.

Cleansing the colon is the beginning of the long process of detoxification. This is because the colon can become built up, or even backed up, with waste. And if no waste is leaving the body, you body is not cleaning itself properly. After you have used a colon cleansing method recommended by a professional natural health practitioner, you can build up your immune system and internal organs with a natural food diet.

Antioxidants

Green and leafy. These are two of the most important things to remember when you are looking for foods high in antioxidants. But this is really not new information for most people, especially those who are natural healing proponents. But many people still aren’t sure why antioxidants are good for the body, or how they help.

Antioxidants boost the immune system. Basically, antioxidants help to protect the body at the cellular level. This can lower your risk of illnesses and infections. The chlorophyll in green, leafy vegetables will also help to protect the internal organs from damage. Plus, antioxidants promote the cleansing of the colon. It is important to take into consideration where your green, leafy vegetables come from; poor environmental conditions in the growing area can lower the vegetable’s ability to provide you with antioxidants. If this is a concern, take an antioxidant supplement.

Detoxification

Everyone has heard of detoxifying diets. They are all the rage now, and a person can find about one hundred different books on the subject at any bookstore. And while it might seem like a trendy or fad diet, there are actually quite a few reasons why a detox diet might be a good idea for almost anyone.

Detoxification diets cleanse the body of toxins and chemicals that processed foods can put in. Since our bodies are built to handle natural foods and not processed ones, natural foods are what most detox diets recommend. There are many things a person in detoxification should avoid: dairy, unfiltered tap water, sugar, artificial sweeteners, and white flour are just a few. Instead of these things, the detox diets recommend large amounts of organic fruits, vegetables – especially green, leafy ones – nuts, seeds, legumes, and whole grains.

Drug Difficulties

There is a lot that can be said for natural healing and alternative medical therapies. While some therapies don’t have very conclusive research results, the benefits of some of these therapies are often a much better option than resulting to traditional medicine and the prescription drug market.

It is a fact that there are an increasing number of problems resulting from prescription drug abuse, overuse, and misuse. While prescription drug abuse falls on the patient, overuse and misuse falls on the doctor and the drug companies. Many drugs are prescribed for illnesses that will not respond to drug therapy. Other drugs are given in doses that are higher than needed, risking the patient’s overall health. And some physicians prescribe contraindicated drugs to a patient causing serious medical problems. Of course this is not to say that prescription drugs are bad; they should be used for their intended, proven purposes, especially in emergencies.

You Need More Information on Alternative Medecine Click on this link

Herbalists, or practitioners of herbal medicine, believe in the use of herbal medicines to treat common medical complaints. This is not to say that herbalists do not use, or believe in the use of, conventional pharmaceutical medications. Many herbalists simply think that the use of pharmaceuticals should be limited to emergency situations.

So the question remains, why do herbalists believe in the use of herbs to treat everyday problems and illnesses? Many herbal medicines are thought to actually help the person not only defeat the symptoms of a cold or other medical problem, but to actually help build a resistance to the illnesses. Herbs can do this because they provide natural and nutritional benefits to the person as opposed to introducing foreign chemicals to the person’s body. Herbs can also boost the human immune system, which in turn helps the person build resistance to disease.

How Far are Herbs from Pharmaceuticals?

The thought of using herbal medicines to treat colds, headaches, and even chronic illnesses can send the average person into a state of shock. The fact is that most people in Western countries think of herbs as the medicines of barbaric medieval surgeons and tribal “witch” doctors. But while this was and is certainly true, most of these people would be shocked to discover that many of the pharmaceuticals commonly used in Western medicine are derived from these same “barbaric” herbs.

Western medicine frequently uses herbs like digitalis and even opium to treat many of the medical complaints and illnesses of the average, modern person. Digitalis is actually a plant from the Scrophulariaceae biological family and is closely related to the common English foxglove plant. Opium is used to create many pain medications commonly prescribed for hospital patients; it is created from seed pods of the opium poppy.

Herbal Medicine Usage Theories

When you use herbs, you probably don’t think about why you are using them the way you are. Most herbal medicine practitioners subscribe to one of several different theories about the proper use of herbal medicine. One of the oldest theories is the Chinese theory that states that herbal medicine is divided into two categories that produce yin-yang balance: pro-oxidants and anti-oxidants. Another, slightly more recent theory about herbal medicine is derived from Native American uses. Native Americans used herbs according to their physiological effects and spiritual uses.

A modern theory combines some of these older theories to create the use of herbal combinations to treat illnesses. According to the Triune formula, there are nine herbal combinations that nourish, supplement, or drain the main organ systems of the human body. This formula was derived from ideas in Chinese herbal medicine.

For more information on Herbalism
- visit the Complete Alternative Medecine Guide

- The Herbal Medecine Guide

Acupuncture. For many needle-phobics, the idea of having a needle inserted into their skin for any length of time seems a torture. But there is good reason for the popularity and staying power of this alternative medicine practice: it has worked for 5000 years, and continues to improve the wellbeing of those who undergo the treatments.

Acupuncture is the Chinese alternative medical practice of inserting very small needles into the skin in strategic places. These places are specially chosen for their effect on specific parts of a person’s physiology. Sometimes acupuncture needles also work with electricity to induce the physiological benefits of the particular points. Often another alternative therapy called Moxibustion is used with acupuncture; this involves the burning of herbs to elicit physiological benefits. Acupressure is also based in the same principles as acupuncture and is sometimes used in conjuncture with acupuncture.

The father of Chinese medicine, Shen Nung, is thought to be the first person to have theorized about circulation in the human body. These theories were compiled approximately 5000 years ago, and led to the development of acupuncture.

Shen Nung developed the idea of the Qi, an energy force that flows through the human body. This energy travels through channels called Meridians which run all through the body. The theory is that when the Qi is not flowing correctly, the human body experiences illness. This incorrect flow can be caused by blocked Meridians which causes unbalanced Qi. In order to reestablish the flow of Qi, certain points of the body where the Meridians contact the surface of the skin must be manipulated. These points are accessed through the insertion of needles into the skin, a practice known as acupuncture.

While acupuncture may seem almost barbaric to Western observers, it is in fact more firmly established and much older than any of the Western style medical treatments available today. This 5000 year old medical procedure has had a lot more development and study than any of the most trusted medical treatments in existence.

There are six commonly used types of acupuncture needles. Each of these types varies in size and shape; some have wider shafts, some have differently shaped heads. The needles are inserted at different angles to the skin surface; the different angles produce different effects in the body. The practitioner then applies a special technique to the needle: rotation, raising and thrusting, a combination of these two techniques, or vibration. Like the type of needle, insertion point and angle of insertion, the type of technique used depends on the desired effect.

For more information on Acupuncture- visit the Complete Alternative Medecine Guide | The Acupuncture Guide

One of the things that practitioners of the alternative medicine industry push is the fact that what you put into your body has an intense effect on your health. Many practitioners will recommend herbs, vitamins and other supplements to assist the average person with occasional complaints, but for people with chronic or serious illnesses a special diet is often recommended.

There are many different diets that are commonly prescribed by alternative medicine practitioners for those patients with regular complaints. Patients with diabetes and acid reflux are often put on diets to help improve their conditions. For more serious illnesses like cancer, more strict diets are enforced. Many people have had incredible luck beating cancer by using a macrobiotic diet. Other people who have complaints of fatigue, weight gain, or just general poor health can often benefit from a detoxifying or cleansing diet. It is important to follow a medical professional’s advice when trying a diet, so be sure to check with your practitioner before starting any restrictive diet.

If you are looking for answers or you are curious or YOU WANT TO KNOW about Alternative Medecine Diets…”!

here is a link:
The Most Complete Alternative Medecine Guide

Many of us do not know about alternative ways to cure oneself…!
Many of us do not think that we can cure ourself… !
What is the reality behind herbal remedies?

What is it about herbs and natural supplements that make so many doctors flinch? Is it that these supplements are actually not good for us, or is it something else? While some doctors are beginning to support patient use of herbal remedies such as Echinacea, others are highly opposed to the use of some of the most beneficial herbal supplements on the market.

There is some reason for caution on the part of the medical community: many of these herbal remedies have not been tested thoroughly by the FDA. However, many people claim that they will continue taking these herbal supplements despite the opinion of the FDA. So who is right? Many holistic practitioners feel that anything that seems to work does, in fact, work; therefore, there is no harm in drinking an herbal tea or taking a supplement to support and boost one’s immune system.

If you are looking for answers or you are curious or YOU WANT TO KNOW!

here is a link:
The Most Complete Alternative Medecine Guide

US First Lady Laura Bush will visit Haiti and Mexico March 13-14 to highlight US assistance to fight HIV/AIDS and breast cancer, and promote education, a White House spokeswoman said Wednesday.

Bush will visit a US Agency for International Development (USAID) education program and an HIV/AIDS clinic — Haiti gets help under US President George W. Bush’s President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) program.

In Mexico City, Laura Bush will attend the launch of the US-Mexico partnership for breast cancer awareness and research, and meet with breast cancer awareness educators and volunteers, said Dana Perino.

An official in Laura Bush’s office declined to say whether the first lady would meet with leaders in either country.

Because you’ll probably encounter at least one in your lifetime, it is important to recognize Common First Aid Scenarios. It is difficult to predict the unexpected, you can learn about basic first aid scenarios so that you know what to do. Though you might see televisions shows and read books about medical dramas that include complicated injuries and diseases, chances are slim that you will ever need this level of expertise. You will find below some common first aid scenarios and how to deal with them - for a complete guide on first aid Visit The Complete Red Hat First Aid GuideCuts and Scrapes

No matter how they happen, cuts and scrapes are still the most common first aid scenarios in any situation. Because life comes with sharp edges, your skin is simply going to get torn from time to time. The main thing to be concerned about when this happens is infection. You need to make sure you are cleaning out the wound as much as you can with warm and soapy water. If you don’t have any water on hand, try to use an antibacterial gel or wipe to help remove dirt and germs. Once you have done this, cover the wound up to prevent further infection and monitor for redness, swelling, and warmth.

In the case of a large gash, you will want to apply pressure to the wound to stop the bleeding first before cleaning the area. The body should be able to clot the blood and stop the bleeding within 10 minutes or so, but if this isn’t happening, you need to seek medical attention. These kinds of cuts will probably need stitches or medication.

Heatstroke/Frostbite

If you’re out in nature at any given point of the year, you need to realize that heatstroke and frostbite can happen. These first aid scenarios might not be as dramatic as a broken bone or a gash, but they can turn from problematic to life threatening in minutes. Here are the signs you need to watch out for:

Heatstroke

• Mental confusion
• Lack of sweating
• High body temperature

In this case, you need to douse the person in water as well as try to have them take a sip or two of water each minute. This will help to cool the body and prevent damage to the cells. You don’t want to give the person a lot of water to drink as they are prone to vomiting at this point which will only dehydrate them further.

Frostbite

• Loss of feeling in extremities
• Fatigue
• White or blackened fingertips, ears, nose, etc.

For frostbite, you need to cover the area as much as you can to keep it warm. If you can, run tepid water over the area to start warming it back up, but not hot water as this can cause more damage as the nerves are deadened and won’t be able to feel a burn.

Both of these first aid scenarios can only be managed by you until help arrives – medical assistance will be necessary.

More on First Aid:
The Complete Red Hat First Aid Guide

Now that the Carnaval is over, during which there have been over 600 injured during the 3 days of Carnaval in Port-au-Prince, we taught it was a good idea of offering to readers, information on the Topic First Aid.

We added a complete Red Hat First Aid Guide

About Finding Accurate First Aid Information

If you’re looking for first aid information, you need to realize that not all information is good information. With the introduction of the Internet, websites have been popping up in record numbers, all promising you the best and more accurate first aid information – but is this the truth? When it comes to your health, you can’t settle for inaccuracies or mistruths. Here’s how to sort out the fact from the fiction.

Books and Magazines

When you’re looking for first aid information you can store in your home or workplace, books and magazines are a great resource that’s portable. However, with the advent of self-publishing, you might be picking up a book that’s never been fact checked or was written from someone’s personal experience and not necessarily based on any medical training. That said, there are many books that are well written and useful. Look for books which were written by doctors or nurses or those who are acknowledged and recommended by the American Red Cross or similar organizations. You might also want to ask your family doctor about the books they recommend you have on hand.

Websites

Since anyone can put up a website with first aid information on it, you need to be even more discerning online. Sites that end in the suffix .edu, .org or .gov tend to be more reliable, but there are also good .com sites as well. What matters most is the author or authors on the site itself. If you can find their names and their credentials, you will be able to tell if this is a site that’s going to offer you useful information. You will also want to look to see when the site was last updated – the more recently, the better. Websites which are affiliated with hospitals or universities are also quite reliable. For a Complete First Aid Guide

Classes

When you want to learn first aid information in a classroom, make sure that you know the qualifications of the teacher. They should be medical professionals and have current licensing or certification to teach. Find out if you will be able to receive a certificate for your participation and how this can be used in your daily life. Obviously, the best classes are those taught by the Red Cross or similar organizations, but your community center might also offer first aid classes.

First aid information is something that needs to be accurate in order for you to use it properly. While everyone may have a different way of teaching the same techniques, in the end, the health of the patient is what matters when you use these techniques.