Haiti earthquake emergency appeal

Staff and customers of Bupa International have been united in their sadness at the situation in Haiti. The earthquake that struck on 12 January has caused widespread destruction and death, and although the international community has mobilised to help, further health implications are inevitable.

Even after the immediate casualties and fatalities are dealt with, the health issues arise from damage that has occurred to infrastructure, including hospitals, water supplies and waste control. With this combination, communicable diseases such as diarrhoea and respiratory infections can become rife. Dehydration, exposure and malnutrition will ensue, as injured individuals have poor access to water, shelter and food.

The mental health impact of a disaster of this enormity also needs to be considered. People who have lost loved ones, whose homes have been destroyed or who have been displaced, will have longer term issues in coping with the activities of daily life. The collective spirit of the Haitians will also be affected, and this will compound the health issues they face in the aftermath.

Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the world and has suffered from a number of hurricanes in recent years, as well as years of violence and insecurity. The immediate priority is to search for survivors and treat the casualties. The World Health Organisation is working with the local governments, UN agencies and other humanitarian organisations to focus on this effort. Bupa International has contributed by donating £20,000 to the Medicins sans Frontiers relief effort.

How to get in touch with our Medical Centre

Bupa International customers affected by the earthquake can rest assured that they will be covered for any treatment they require and evacuation in the event that treatment cannot be found locally (subject to the terms of their policies). Our medical centre in Copenhagen is co-ordinating our response to the disaster, overseeing any necessary medical evacuations.

If you need help or further information, please contact our medical centre on +44 (0) 1273 333 911.

We have also set up a Twitter account for our Medical Centre. You can get in touch with the staff by sending a tweet or direct message to @ihiBupa_medical.