The World Bank recently announced that it has approved a $15 million grant to help fight the cholera epidemic in Haiti.

The World Bank Board of Directors approved the project in order to not only improve the country's ability to medically respond to the crisis, but also to improve monitoring efforts. The country has suffered around 149,000 cases of cholera, taking the lives of more than 3,000 since the outbreak began in October. Haiti's Minister of Finance, Roland Baudin, said that his country was suffering and was grateful to the World Bank.

"Haiti needs all the help it can get to respond to the deadly cholera epidemic which is ravaging parts of the country,” said Baudin. “The continued support of the World Bank will be key for saving lives and re-establishing the public health service network."

In addition to the World Bank, citizens of the United States have been making efforts to help the island nation. The Chronicle of Philanthropy reported that Americans gave a total of $1.4 billion in 2010.