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Tuesday, October 18, 2016
Dept of State. Human Trafficking Annual Report. October 2016
On Tuesday, October 18, the U.S. Advisory Council
on Human Trafficking released its 
HAITI. Waste management considerations.
From 2013. Still relevant in 2016.
Addressing Waste Management in Haiti |
Article and Photos by Sam Vigersky
 Representatives from PAHO/WHO, UNEP, and World Vision stand between mountains of rotting garbage at Truitier Municipal Dump (TMD) in Port-au-Prince. The stench alone would drive most people away at the entrance, but Sally Edwards, a PAHO/WHO advisor on environmental health, brings everyone further into the site to see the waste managementprojects. Amid thunderous dump trucks and scrappy 700-pound pigs mingling with goats, Sally explains where pits for medical waste stand in relation to the newly constructed road they are standing on. Truitier has always been a city dumping ground, but over the last six months a consortium of health partners have been working to increase its capacity for a more sustainable waste management system in Haiti.
After the earthquake, waste management became an increasingly complex problem. Medical products like needles, disposable gloves, and bandages piled up at field hospitals and health centers with no system for disposal. Left in trash piles, they increase the risk for transmission of diseases like HIV, hepatitis, and tuberculosis. The displaced population of 1.5 million living in spontaneous settlement sites posed outsized challenges for liquid and solid waste. In particular, the build-up of excreta in camps can contaminate water sources and serve as a breeding ground for flies to spread dangerous salmonella and E. coli bacteria.
 During the initial response in January, PAHO/WHO provided public health institutions and NGOs with 20,000 colored plastic bags for safe disposal of health care waste and 1,000 sharps containers for needle disposal. This was only the first step in developing a more robust medical waste management system. To ensure timely and safe pickup, PAHO/WHO contracted Haitian Solid Waste Collection Agency (SMCRS) personnel, trained them to safely remove this type of waste and then provided vaccination against diseases. The staff used two specially designated trucks to pick up waste at 24 health facilities in Port-au-Prince.
The system was not perfect, but as Sally Edwards noted, “It was imperative. Hospitals needed to be supported in managing the huge amount of waste generated following the earthquake. A lot of space surrounding their facilities was used as tent wards and infectious waste needed to be taken off site as quickly as possible.” Once the medical waste was collected, it was dumped at Truitier, where PAHO/WHO worked to build capacity for disposing of this hazardous material by paying for construction of two medical waste pits.
In addition to the hazards posed by medical waste, PAHO/WHO environmental health experts recognized the urgent need to remove latrine excreta from internally displaced persons (IDP) camps. While health care waste pits were being dug, three sludge pits were also constructed at Truitier to complement a program run by the Water Sanitation and Hygiene Cluster. Under that initiative, IDP camps throughout metropolitan Port-au-Prince were identified, and donated de-sludging trucks were dispatched to remove 3,000-5,000 cubic meters of excreta each week.
 Sometimes the best laid plans hit unforeseen obstacles, which in this case happen to be more trash. “I remember arriving here in April and discovering the road leading to one of the medical waste pits had become totally impassable because of solid waste and mud,” noted Sally as she reflected on the situation. “Rather than drive a half mile to the correct site once in Truitier, some truck drivers had dumped solid waste in the middle of the road. This action had a cascading effect. The next trucks to arrive were blocked, and had no choice but to dump their trash in the road. It definitely felt like major setback.” To address the issue, PAHO/WHO quickly funded repairs of the blocked 2,000 meter road and turning circle that allowed access to the pits. Two supervisors at Truitier were also hired to oversee disposal of waste in designated sites. This will prevent truck drivers from dumping in the road in the future.
More recently, PAHO/WHO has been working with the Ministry of Health and other partners to establish a longer term solution to the health care waste disposal system in Haiti. A plan is underway to reestablish the incinerator network and disposal options for waste that cannot be incinerated are being proposed. A new training initiative within hospitals on health care waste management is about to begin, which will continue to build capacity in the health system. Finally, PAHO/WHO continues to support partners removing liquid waste from settlement sites. Two additional lagoons for excreta, each with the capacity to treat 25,000 cubic meters, were built in June and July. These pits are an interim solution while a long-term plan is being designed by the partnering agencies. Going forward, PAHO/WHO plans to continue its technical support of waste management projects in collaboration with SMCRS and the Ministry of Health.
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| Last Updated on Wednesday, 31 July 2013 14:05 |
http://www.paho.org/disasters/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1365%3Aaddressing-waste-management-in-haiti&catid=1049%3Aspotlight-stories&lang=en
October 2016. Conference to Rebuild Health Systems in Countries Devastated by Ebola Held in Washington
http://www.frontpageafricaonline.com/index.php/health/2279-conference-to-rebuild-health-systems-in-countries-devastated-by-ebola-held-in-washington
Conference
to Rebuild Health Systems in Countries Devastated by Ebola Held in Washington
Washington,
D.C. - A
conference, organized by several non-governmental organizations to review the
current state of national and international efforts to assist in rebuilding the
healthcare delivery systems, environment management, and develop emergency
preparedness in countries of the Mano River Union (MRU) worst affected by the
Ebola epidemic, took place recently in Silver Spring, Maryland, outside
Washington, DC, USA.
The “International Conference on
Post Ebola Capacity Building for the Mano River Union” brought together an
array of professional experts in health science, environmental, disaster and
emergency management response, education, as well as private and public sector
leaders, and the MRU Diaspora Community, among others.
The goal of the impressive
conference was to discuss lessons learned from the Ebola epidemic, assess the
state of post-Ebola initiatives in the three worst affected countries, identify
specific needs, seek and lobby for continuous international help to sustain the
MRU countries.
The conference, held October 6,
2016, was organized by the U.S. State of Maryland and Liberia Sister States
Committee (MLSSC), Africa Environmental Watch (AEW), International Medical
Corps (IMC), and Help Africa (HA).
Diplomats from the embassies of
three MRU countries – Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone, also attended the
conference, which convened several panels on Medicine, Environment, Education,
Disaster Response, Maritime, Empowering the Disables, and uniting the African
Diaspora to support sustainable development in Africa.
In welcome remarks, Ms. Sheila
Durant, a lawyer who is chair of the MLSSC, underscored the commitment of her
organization to continue to deepen the relationship between the U.S. State of
Maryland and Liberia, including support to Liberia in education and other areas
of need. She added that the purpose of the conference was to bring the MRU
Diaspora and interested partners together to deliberate on how to assist in the
process of establishing a better healthcare systems in Africa, especially the
MRU countries such as Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, which were worst
affected by the Ebola epidemic.
The Sister State Program
Agreement, signed between the State of Maryland, USA and Bong County and
Maryland County of Liberia in 2007, is to enhance the many opportunities for
cooperation in business and industry, arts and culture, education, and also to build
long-term relationships, promote commercial cooperation and develop joint
program of exchange in the areas indicated.
Earlier in opening remarks,
environmental activist and engineer Morris T. Koffa, Executive Director of
Africa Environmental Watch, who served as Conference Chair, said the conference
was intended to bring together professionals of diverse background to
deliberate on efforts that must be made to sustain progress in rebuilding the
health systems and establish effective emergency preparedness in the MRU
countries.
Delivering the keynote address,
Mr. Melvin Foote, President, Constituency For Africa (CFA), a leading Africa
advocacy organization in Washington, assured that the CFA will continue to
strongly advocate for the establishment of the Centers for Disease Control
(CDC) in Africa so as to undertake medical research and respond promptly to
health emergencies that may arise in Africa.
The noted American activist in
the cause of Africa expressed the need for the African Diaspora to organize and
be pro-active in advocating for solutions to Africa’s problems. He added
that there is a lot that the African Diaspora in the United States can achieve
on behalf of the continent by organizing around specific goals and programs and
using their expertise and collective resources.
Deputizing for Liberia’s
Ambassador to the United States, H.E. Jeremiah C. Sulunteh, Hon. Gabriel I H
Williams, Minister Counselor for Press and Public Affairs at the Embassy of
Liberia, indicated that the Government and people of Liberia welcome the
initiatives the various organizations are undertaking to strongly advocate for
international support to ensure sustainable progress in the MRU.
Hon. Williams said Liberia is
faced with serious medical challenges due to inadequate capacity of its
healthcare system. He mentioned what is reported to by an alarming rise
in hypertension (commonly known as high blood pressure in Liberia), which has
caused the lives of many young and abled body Liberians, especially professionals
and leaders of diverse background, who were breadwinners for their families.
Hon. Williams called on the
medical experts and groups to consider the need for serious medical
intervention in the areas of hypertension and mental health, which have become
grave health challenges since the end of the Liberian civil upheaval.
Among the several panel
groups that made presentation at the conference was a panel on Medicine under
the title, Healthcare: the Path to Sustainable Growth/Saving Lives Through
Medicine.
This panel included medical
doctors who are originated from Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone. The
co-facilitator of the Panel on Medicine was Ms. Luana Kiandoli, a lifelong
advocate in the US for the improvement of Liberia’s healthcare. She is a
specialist in tropical disease and establishment of medical laboratories and
has taught graduate medical education.
Mr. Charles Sharpe, a retired US
Air Force Inspector General and founder and CEO of the Black Emergency Managers
Association (BEMA), one of the speakers at the conference, stressed the need
for a robust disaster and emergency management preparedness in the MRU and
Africa by extension to help reduce the risk and impact of potential
catastrophic events.
Dealing with the topic,
Maritime: Clean Ocean Program and Port Security, Mr. Harry T. Conway, Alternate
Representative of Liberia to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and
Mr. Gerald F. B. Cooper, President, Maritime Cooper Associates, Inc., discussed
programs and policies being undertaken by the Liberian Government and the
international community to ensure global maritime safety and environmental
protection, among others.
On Education, Dr. Barbara
Simmons, who serves as Inaugural Dean of International Education and Associate
Professor at the William V.S. Tubman University in Maryland County, Liberia,
spoke on the importance of education and Tubman University’s role in building
capacity.
Representatives of Morgan State
University in Baltimore, which has a MOU in education partnership with Tubman
University under the Maryland and Liberia Sister States relationship, and the
University of Maryland Eastern Shore, also participated in the conference.
Monday, October 17, 2016
EPA Begins Prep and Cleanup at Fruitland Magnesium Fire Site in Maywood, Calif.
For
Immediate Release: October 17, 2016
Media Contact: Nahal Mogharabi, mogharabi.nahal@epa.gov, 213-244-1815
En Español: Soledad Calvino, calvino.maria@epa.gov, 415-972-3512
LOS
ANGELES—Today,
the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will begin site preparations
and hazardous waste removal in the aftermath of the Fruitland Magnesium Fire in
Maywood, Calif. The cleanup activities are expected to last approximately
eight weeks and may cost up to $3 million.
As a result of debris removal, odors from burned material may be noticeable in the area, depending on weather conditions. EPA will be conducting air monitoring throughout the cleanup and will take measures to ensure contaminants at the site do not pose a health risk.
Prior to the start of the cleanup work, EPA will prepare the site by installing a debris barrier to prevent material and dust from re-entering the surrounding neighborhoods. Once the debris barrier is in place, EPA will work with the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) to classify and remove non-hazardous materials such as debris and scrap metal. Any hazardous materials found will be separated and transported to an EPA-approved facility. Confirmation sampling will be done to ensure the cleanup goals have been achieved.
Background
On June 14, 2016, a fire destroyed an industrial property located at 3570 Fruitland Avenue in Maywood, Calif. The fire affected two facilities on the Fruitland Avenue property – Panda International Trading (PIT), a scrap metal recycling business, and SOKOR Metals, an electronics recycling business. The EPA will continue to coordinate with state and local agencies, including the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, the Los Angeles County Fire Health Hazardous Materials Division and the California Department of Resources, Recycling and Recovery.
For more information, please visit: https://www.epa.gov/ca/epa-response-fruitland-magnesium-fire-maywood-ca
Media Contact: Nahal Mogharabi, mogharabi.nahal@epa.gov, 213-244-1815
En Español: Soledad Calvino, calvino.maria@epa.gov, 415-972-3512
EPA Begins Prep and Cleanup at Fruitland
Magnesium Fire Site in Maywood, Calif.
Debris removal will take approximately eight weeks
Debris removal will take approximately eight weeks
As a result of debris removal, odors from burned material may be noticeable in the area, depending on weather conditions. EPA will be conducting air monitoring throughout the cleanup and will take measures to ensure contaminants at the site do not pose a health risk.
Prior to the start of the cleanup work, EPA will prepare the site by installing a debris barrier to prevent material and dust from re-entering the surrounding neighborhoods. Once the debris barrier is in place, EPA will work with the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) to classify and remove non-hazardous materials such as debris and scrap metal. Any hazardous materials found will be separated and transported to an EPA-approved facility. Confirmation sampling will be done to ensure the cleanup goals have been achieved.
Background
On June 14, 2016, a fire destroyed an industrial property located at 3570 Fruitland Avenue in Maywood, Calif. The fire affected two facilities on the Fruitland Avenue property – Panda International Trading (PIT), a scrap metal recycling business, and SOKOR Metals, an electronics recycling business. The EPA will continue to coordinate with state and local agencies, including the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, the Los Angeles County Fire Health Hazardous Materials Division and the California Department of Resources, Recycling and Recovery.
For more information, please visit: https://www.epa.gov/ca/epa-response-fruitland-magnesium-fire-maywood-ca
###
Hurricane Matthew Recovery. FEMA Individual and community assistance.
What constitutes a community. A community in its' basic\simplistic form is a GROUP of people with common interest.
10/17/2016 03:28 PM EDT
COLUMBIA, S.C. –
Homeowners, renters and business owners in Marion and Orangeburg counties must
register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to be eligible for
federal disaster assistance for Hurricane Matthew damages and losses in South
Carolina.
Disaster
survivors may register in any of the following ways:
·
Online
at DisasterAssistance.gov;
·
On
the FEMA
Mobile App;
·
Calling
800-621-3362 (FEMA)
English
Everyday is an International Day for Disaster Reduction.
From:
, our International member with the Nigeria Emergency Management Agency (NEMA, http://nema.gov.ng/) in the Delta Region.
, our International member with the Nigeria Emergency Management Agency (NEMA, http://nema.gov.ng/) in the Delta Region.
Climate
change will increase the number of natural disaster events worldwide. Be prepared.
BEMA
a part of the national and international network of disaster\emergency
management professionals.
BEMA
extending our helping hand across borders.
For African Descent and all communities.
Thank
you.
Black Emergency Managers
Association
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1231 Good Hope Road S.E.
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Washington, D.C. 20020
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Office: 202-618-9097
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bEMA
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Cooperation,
Collaboration, Communication, Coordination, Community engagement, and Partnering (C5&P)
Friday, October 14, 2016
U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services. Public Health Emergency Weekly Report. October 14, 2016
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