Health: Prevention, Care, and Clean Water for La Gonave

At Starfysh, we believe that improving the health of La Gonave’s population is essential to achieving our mission of restoring dignity and hope to this island’s 100,000 residents. Our health initiatives focus on both preventive measures and essential care, recognizing that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” By investing in community health education, we aim to save lives, increase life expectancy, and improve the overall well-being of La Gonave’s people. And, while there are occasions we do provide care for the sick, our primary focus is on prevention measures, keeping people well through improved sanitation and hygiene practices and access to clean water.

Community Health Education
We are having a significant and lasting impact on the overall health of La Gonave through a “community health education” (CHE) model, where communities across the island are visited by agents bringing lessons on hygiene, nutrition, and disease prevention. To date, more than fifty percent of La Gonave’s villages have been reached by CHE agents. Starfysh also hosts medical and dental teams who conduct clinics in remote areas. While curative care is not our main focus, these clinics play a crucial role in addressing immediate health needs and building relationships with medical professionals who may become long-term partners in our preventive health initiatives.

Close, Clean Water
Access to close, clean water remains one of the most pressing health challenges on La Gonave. Sadly, a majority of people on the island rely on contaminated water sources, which explains why intestinal disease is endemic across the island. Intestinal parasites are widespread, while typhoid fever and cholera remain all too common. This is sad because these intestinal illnesses are entirely preventable.

We must not underestimate the negative impact that preventable intestinal illness has on the island. In addition to causing unnecessary death, chronic diarrhea causes high absenteeism in schools and reduces strength and productivity on farms and in the workplace.

Sadly, running water will not be an infrastructural reality for La Gonave anytime in the near future. In the meantime, retrieving water will be a difficult, daily task for nearly every household on the island. The burden of retrieving water falls primarily on women and children, who often walk miles to collect and carry water. This task consumes hours each day, time that might otherwise be spent on other productive activities, such as farming or attending school.

Finally, we must not forget that close water is critically important to the family farm. Garden crops will not make it through La Gonave’s yearly dry season without it. Close access to water, however, can extend the growing season and, therefore, help families produce more food.

Household Latrines
The benefits of having a family latrine are well known. In addition to its obvious health benefits, the presence of a personal latrine positively impacts the dignity of those who have one. In 2025 we will continue to lean into our vision that every household on the island has a latrine. Our implementing model for seeing this happen is to help one village at a time be able to boast that 100% of its households have one.

Summary: Community Health Strategies for La Gonave

• Purifying Contaminated Water: Implement filtration systems and educate communities on safe water practices.
• Harvesting and Storing Rainwater: Promote sustainable methods to capture and store rainwater for use during dry seasons.
• Providing Wells: Provide wells in villages that currently lack access to clean water.
• Building Household Latrines: Equip villages to see 100% of their homes have family latrines.

Join Us in Transforming Lives

Starfysh is more than a movement; it’s a mission to restore dignity and hope through health initiatives on La Gonave. We believe that access to clean water, essential healthcare, and health education are fundamental rights that can change lives. But we can’t do it alone. Your support enables us to provide these critical services, build a healthier future, and make a lasting impact on the lives of those in need.

Donate Today and be a part of this transformative journey.