April 27, 2009

Is my sponsored child safe?
Yes. At this point, the swine flu has not yet hit rural areas where our sponsored children live.

World Vision currently supports more than 51,000 sponsored children in Mexico, including 4,750 children supported by Canadians. We will be updating our website as we get more information.

World Vision is always keenly interested in the health and the well-being of children and their families. We are carefully monitoring the swine flu outbreak in Mexico and adhering to the preventative measures advised by the public health officials in the country.

What is World Vision doing in response to the swine flu?
World Vision Mexico is closely working with Health Ministry and Civil Protection Secretariats to receive updated information to be ready to respond if necessary. All World Vision Mexico staff members have received information on how to prevent the infection and what to do if the symptoms appear.

Is World Vision office in Mexico joining any public health efforts to contain the spread of the disease?
World Vision Mexico is on daily contact with Health Secretariat to receive updates to be ready to respond if necessary. So far the Health Secretariat and National Army are attending the population, from preventive campaigns to medical attention to the affected persons. So far no response from World Vision is needed nor foreseen. Health authorities are handling the situation.

With an international organization such as World Vision, how do you prevent your own travelling staff from spreading the flu to other countries?
We are aware of the risks and are monitoring staff that have visited Mexico for any signs of illness. Revision points have been established at all airports in Mexico where travellers are checked before checking in.

International airports in Japan, Spain, Canada, United States and some countries in Europe are closely monitoring flights coming in from Mexico and advising travellers from those places not to come to Mexico.

If staff members fall sick, who will be taking care of the sponsored children and the programs in the field?
The swine flu has not yet hit rural areas where our sponsored children live and where our long-term community projects are. At the same time, World Vision has experience working in countries where there are health risks. A recent example is the cholera epidemic in Zimbabwe where World Vision is providing water supplies, addressing sanitation issues and providing medication in cooperation with local hospitals and clinics.

Even when staff cannot directly intervene at times of crisis, World Vision has established networks of community leaders and partnerships with other organizations which can often step in and help as needed.
 
Currently, World Vision supports 330 impoverished communities in the following nine states: Guerrero, Oaxaca, Chiapas, Veracruz, Michoacán, San Luis Potosí, State of Mexico, Baja California Norte and Sonora.