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9057: Fwd: Call for Release of $500 million in Aid to Haiti (fwd)
From: kevin pina <kpinbox@hotmail.com>
Friday September 7, 4:44 pm Eastern Time
Press Release
SOURCE: Pan American Health Organization
Pan American Health Organization Director Calls for Aid
Speaks of 'Collective Responsibility ... '
WASHINGTON, Sept. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. George A.O. Alleyne, Director of the
Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), voiced his concern for the public
health crisis today in a speech given at the Organization of American States
to its Secretary General and an audience that included Mexican President
Vicente Fox, the President of the Inter-American Bank, and members of the
Permanent OAS Council. While others speaking at the OAS today were
petitioned to use the forum to raise awareness of Haiti's urgent need for
international aid, only Alleyne took the opportunity. Alleyne delivered a
powerful plea for the international community to ``make a special effort''
now, to deal with Haiti's health and economic crises.
While generally voicing optimism on the state of Health in the American
continents, Dr. Alleyne spoke of his grave concern after a recent visit to
Haiti: ``I have decided that we must make a special effort in this area, and
have the hope or dream that collective concern for health may form a
platform for understanding among those who now manifest differences.''
Dr. Alleyene further stated that he believed that the countries and
governing organizations of the share a collective responsibility for
improving the health conditions in Haiti. ``I have just returned from that
country,'' he stated, ``and am convinced that we have a collective
responsibility to assist in improving the health situation there.''
He called for an organized effort to relieve the devastation to Haiti's
economy and the suffering of her people. These abhorrent conditions have
been exacerbated by the OAS' actions opposing the release of over $500
million in aid to the country even as the government of Haiti President Jean
Bertrand Aristide continues to move toward meeting all provisions agreed to
for its release.
``I am not insensitive to the political problems, but at the same time I am
haunted by the fact that for every 1000 babies born, five mothers die. That
is about 100 times worse than the situation in the best of our countries, ''
he continued. Alleyene's comments reflect international concern over Haiti's
economic and health problems, and a growing belief that the international
community must act to release international aide.
SOURCE: Pan American Health Organization
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