NewsWhore
11-16-2011, 01:20 PM
The Minister of Public Health Bautista Rojas Gomez says that while the Dominican Republic has managed to control cholera and prevent a full-blown epidemic, continued vigilance continued to be essential one year to the day since the first case was reported. He urged the population to observe strict personal hygiene measures and use only reliable drinking water because the threat of the disease still exists.
Cholera entered the country from Haiti, after a contingent of the United Nations Minustah soldiers from Nepal brought the disease to the earthquake-stricken country. In Haiti, 473,649 cholera cases have been recorded, with a death toll of 6,631 (as of 14 October). In the Dominican Republic, there have been 8,100 cases and 149 deaths, evidence of the success of the control programs.
The Minister said that teamwork and strategic alliances had reduced the impact of the disease in terms of the number of cases and deaths. Rojas Gomez said that the media played a helpful role and communities have worked together to educate the public and keep cholera and other tropical diseases under control. He said that the Pan-American Health Organization originally estimated that the country would have 50,000 suspected cholera cases and 500 deaths by now.
Bautista Gomez said the government has made available RD$200 million to fight the spread of the disease, as reported in Hoy. He said that the country has had the cooperation of the PAHO, the Center for Disease Control of Atlanta (CDC), UNICEF, the European Union, and USAID. The Health Minister said the joint work by the ministries of Armed Forces, Education, Environment, city governments and potable water institutions, as well as the Dominican Medical Association (CMD) and specialized medical bodies have been key.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#1)
Cholera entered the country from Haiti, after a contingent of the United Nations Minustah soldiers from Nepal brought the disease to the earthquake-stricken country. In Haiti, 473,649 cholera cases have been recorded, with a death toll of 6,631 (as of 14 October). In the Dominican Republic, there have been 8,100 cases and 149 deaths, evidence of the success of the control programs.
The Minister said that teamwork and strategic alliances had reduced the impact of the disease in terms of the number of cases and deaths. Rojas Gomez said that the media played a helpful role and communities have worked together to educate the public and keep cholera and other tropical diseases under control. He said that the Pan-American Health Organization originally estimated that the country would have 50,000 suspected cholera cases and 500 deaths by now.
Bautista Gomez said the government has made available RD$200 million to fight the spread of the disease, as reported in Hoy. He said that the country has had the cooperation of the PAHO, the Center for Disease Control of Atlanta (CDC), UNICEF, the European Union, and USAID. The Health Minister said the joint work by the ministries of Armed Forces, Education, Environment, city governments and potable water institutions, as well as the Dominican Medical Association (CMD) and specialized medical bodies have been key.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#1)