Of the $2.5 million that GE has targeted for earthquake relief in Haiti, $1 million will be used to help the next phase of the response effort — recovery. That stage is already underway with solar-powered water purification units now shipping to the devasted country, along with critically needed medical technologies (such as ultrasound, anesthesia and x-ray) and mobile video units to help search and rescue teams. In addition to the $2.5 million pledge, GE employees have donated $1.5 million to organizations supporting the relief efforts, half of which comes from matching grants from the GE Foundation.
Operates anywhere: The technology effectively treats groundwater, surface-water, and recycled rainwater or cistern water. They are solar-powered, portable, and able to produce clean drinking water using the same membrane treatment technology used by large scale treatment plants.
In addition to the Sunspring water purification systems — which GE Water & Process Technologies makes with our partner, Innovative Water Technologies — GE Healthcare has shipped anesthesia units, ultrasound machines and mobile x-ray units. GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies is also sending portable video cameras that can snake into hard to reach places in order to aid search & rescue efforts.
On their way: One of the Sunspring water filtration units is seen here in the warehouse just prior to shipping out to Haiti.
On the go: GE recently launched its latest ultrasound, the Venue 40, which is now being shipped to Haiti. It’s been reduced to a size smaller than a laptop computer.
“A single Sunspring unit is capable of producing 19,000 liters of drinkable water every day,” notes CBS news in its story about the shipment. “The units are quick to deploy and can be operational three hours after arrival.” That means they can have an immediate impact — but they can also be of critical use long-term, as they operate for years.
In addition to GE’s financial donations to the Red Cross and UNICEF, the GE Foundation — the philanthropic organization of GE — is committing a 100 percent match of all employee donations sent to qualified organizations supporting Haiti relief efforts.
“Recognizing the overwhelming blow this disaster has brought to the Haitian people and the country’s infrastructure, GE is committed to help the region in this critical time of need,” said Bob Corcoran, vice president of GE Foundation. “The generosity and activation of our employees is inspiring and the GE Foundation is proud to match their philanthropic efforts.”
On the lookout: The XL PRO video borescope, seen on the left, is made by GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies and will be used by search and rescue teams. The XL Go, at right, is also being shipped. It has the same basic features as the XL PRO, but weighs only 4lbs.
Ready for action: With much of Haiti’s water supply contaminated following the quake, the need for filtration equipment to prevent dysentary and other diseases is extremely high. Here the Sunspring units can be seen just prior to being shipped.
* See a CBS news video about the Sunspring units heading to Haiti
* Read “New miniature ultrasound puts power in docs’ hands” on GE Reports
* Learn about GE’s initial donations following the earthquake
Jeff and Keith…
Salute to the GE leadership and management for their care of Haiti… by the way, this purification system should be market for many areas of the world shorting of clean water and cause of events…
It is right decision. Homespring units already helped 2008 in China,
after big Tsunami and Katrina Hurricane. Also many thanks to
Jack Barker….
Looking for help with the Haiti Relief Effort!
What We Have:
1) Clearance to establish a staging base at the airstrip near the port on La Gonâve to provide a safe and open medical and relief sanctuary for La Gonâve and Port Au Prince.
2) Deployable and sustainable Mobile Advanced Surgical Humanitarian Hospitals (MASHH) to bring first-class medical care to the ill or injured in Haiti
3) 20-30 Harvard Medical School Disaster Medicine Doctors and Fellows currently fully prepared for Haitian A-Team deployment. (We have a reserve of over 150 doctors and medical personnel for rotation.)
4) A highly experienced security contingent from The HALO Corporation located in Tampa, awaiting clearance and funding to travel to La Gonâve as an advance party. (This group is self-contained with air/ground assets immediately available)
We Need Funding for the following:
1) Medical Supplies
2) Food for Humanitarian Relief
3) Water and Water Purification Systems
4) Medical Doctors, Medics, and Security Personnel
5) Facilities to sustain relief operations
6) Transportation
If you can help or have know someone to put me in contact with, it would be greatly appreciated.
What GE is doing is the smart way of doing things. Provide basic infrastructure support ie: Water purification equipment and medical equipement to help field responders get to work. Especially the Venue 40. It would be impossible to use a traditional Ultrasound equipment in places disrupted by natural disaster.
A company, TEECO has developed a unique Hybrid Energy Infrastructure as a clean and renewable energy power generating plant. It uses waste heat and wind from the initial input energy (ICP or gas turbine)to provide highly efficient secondary power. The TEECO Energy Tree operating in conjunction with DG is, in most cases twice as efficient as conventional powrer plants and many time cleaner. Power is scalable to 1 MW + and in a rapid deployment configuration using ISO containers is operational in less than 8 hours. The GE water system can be incorporated into the TEECO system as an ideal operating system to provide water and power to Haiti.[
I posted a recormendation to applaud the good Humanitarian gesture of GE as regards the solar-powered water fountain and Gene Weaver of TEECO’s introduction of waste heat and wind power energy,
If this is considered to be a viable source of energy for pure water filteration for African children, kindly inform me. thanks.
Thank you GE for your help!
Thank you for recognizing, at least from CNN and A. Cooper and Gupta and Tuchman that we are resilient human beings!
Thank you for realizing that Haitians show always their religiosity even after two weeks, buried without food or water. Lord’s chants are their first acclamation!
Thank for recognizing that, if helped, Haiti can go from misery to at least poverty!God bless you!
GE : You have done great work. Water is very important in everyday life. What is the actual cost of one unit. Our people in Africa can use one for the entire town. Last time I visited homeland we did not have drinking water. No disaster but our people stay in-line for up to 6 hours to get a bucket of drinking water. Most times no electric power and no water. Solar powered is great because we have plenty of sunshine. They can use one. Please respond. We can raise money and send them one. I’m excited already.
Excellent effort and dedication to help human being by GE
Solar-powered water purification unit is the superior illustration of GE .I deeply respects to all GE members .Haiti earthquake was a very terrible incident & cannot be forgettable in its history.