Haiti has the highest child and maternal mortality rate in the Western Hemisphere, and its vulnerability to natural disasters, hurricanes and earthquakes, further jeopardize their safety. This, in addition to a lack of access to quality health care, puts Haiti's residents at high-risk for malaria, a disease that kills one million people each year around the world.

Haiti is one of the last two countries in the Caribbean region with known cases of malaria (the Dominican Republic being the other). The World Malaria Report 2009 indicates that half of Haiti's population is at high risk. Haiti's residents struggle with mosquitoes biting children repeatedly, with many developing malaria-like symptoms, such as fevers and headaches. Last year, malaria infected about 30,000 people in Haiti and several thousand more in the Dominican Republic. Now, with the devastating earthquake that has hit the island, the urgency of the assistance for help has escalated. The destruction, on top of existing poverty and instability contributes greatly to increases in malaria infections in both countries.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention research has shown "focal seasonal distribution of malaria in Haiti." Sub-urban areas show lower risk while rural areas and rainy season periods produce more of the disease. "Historically, malaria transmission peaks in November, December, or January in central Haiti."

Many organizations have reacted to in response to the Haiti's growing need. In addition to the numerous organizations participating and helping in the relief effort, organizations like the Haitian Red Cross and the Carter Center are hope to help counteract increases in transmission of malaria on the island. The Red Cross aims to strengthen malaria prevention practices at the household level and make-shift camps and increase community access to health information and services. In addition, the Red Cross distributes more than 12,500 insecticide-treated bed nets to families. Through these community-based activities and insecticide-treated curtains, the effort to control and possibly eradicate the problem moves one step forward.

The Carter Center aims to help curb the disease by donating insecticide treated nets for beds and microscopes to diagnose malaria samples through a pilot program established in 2008. Dr. Hopkins, director of the Carter Center's health programs, says "What we sought to bring that was value added was a focus on elimination, not just on continuing to treat and control the malaria problem."

The need is urgent. Randall and Tirrell report that, "SURVIVORS of the Haiti earthquake face deadly outbreaks of diarrhea, measles and malaria after the country's already fragile water and health systems were destroyed." The collapse of hospitals and the loss of lives in the health workforce will have long term consequences in the ability of the country to respond to infectious diseases.

If you would like to help with donating bed-nets, go to http://www.AgainstMalaria.com/greensolutionsmag.