NewsWhore
01-12-2012, 04:20 PM
In a ceremony at the Presidential Palace yesterday, officials of the Ministry of Public Health and foreign health organizations launched a crusade against cholera in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The announcement of the event coincided with the second anniversary of the devastating earthquake in Haiti that measured 7.3 on the Richter scale. It killed around 300,000 people and left 1.3 million homeless.
The plan is coordinated by the Ministry with the support of the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO), the World Health Organization (WHO), the US Center for Disease Control (CDC) and UNICEF. It is to be known as "A Call to Action: Hispaniola Without Cholera."
Since the beginning of this outbreak in 2010, according to the WHO, Haiti has registered more than half a million cases, with 7,000 deaths and in the Dominican Republic 21,432 cases have been registered and 363 deaths, 149 in 2011. Health Minister Bautista Rojas Gomez said that the disease was the worst threat in the last few years. He said that essential investments in the infrastructure for the provision of potable water, sanitation and hygiene were needed to eliminate cholera. US$500 million will be invested to make the improvements needed over the long term. Bautista was speaking during an event held at the Presidential Palace and said the plan is to request these funds from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the World Bank.
Bautista says this is a long-term, 5-year investment, but work would begin immediately on water and sanitation at 342 rural aqueducts that require the installation of automatic chlorine feeders. He said feeders have already been installed in 188 aqueducts in six provinces.
PAHO representative Lilian Reneau-Vernon said during the meeting that the Ministry of Health had made great strides, but that the eradication of cholera was complex. "Only by improving public access to safe water will there be an impact on reducing diarrhea in general and mortality," she stressed, as reported in El Dia. She estimated Haiti needs around US$1 billion to eradicate cholera.
During the ceremony, Leonel Fernandez spoke by videoconference, stating that he was confident that both the Dominican Republic and Haiti would continue the fight against cholera during 2012. Fernandez hailed the plan and confirmed that Latin America and the Caribbean saw the campaign as praiseworthy, and that in his judgment it should receive the backing of the Dominican and Haitian governments. He committed to continue working to help Haiti deal with cholera and other adversities. "We believe that we can join greater efforts in 2012 with the objective of combating cholera, and in this way help relieve the suffering of our peoples," Fernandez said.
Marcus Espinal, representing both the WHO and the PAHO in Washington, congratulated the Dominican Republic for both the effort and efficiency with which they had combated the disease, and in addition for the support which they had shown to Haiti in the fight against cholera.
Minister of Economy, Planning and Development Temistocles Montas, National District Mayor Roberto Salcedo, Corporation for Aqueducts and Water Supply (CAASD) director Freddy Perez, National Institute for Potable Water and Water Supply (INAPA) director Mariano German and Armed Forces Minister Lieutenant General Joaquin Virgilio Perez Feliz, attended the ceremony, as well as members of the diplomatic corps and Haitian Ambassador Fritz Cineas, among others.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#1)
The plan is coordinated by the Ministry with the support of the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO), the World Health Organization (WHO), the US Center for Disease Control (CDC) and UNICEF. It is to be known as "A Call to Action: Hispaniola Without Cholera."
Since the beginning of this outbreak in 2010, according to the WHO, Haiti has registered more than half a million cases, with 7,000 deaths and in the Dominican Republic 21,432 cases have been registered and 363 deaths, 149 in 2011. Health Minister Bautista Rojas Gomez said that the disease was the worst threat in the last few years. He said that essential investments in the infrastructure for the provision of potable water, sanitation and hygiene were needed to eliminate cholera. US$500 million will be invested to make the improvements needed over the long term. Bautista was speaking during an event held at the Presidential Palace and said the plan is to request these funds from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the World Bank.
Bautista says this is a long-term, 5-year investment, but work would begin immediately on water and sanitation at 342 rural aqueducts that require the installation of automatic chlorine feeders. He said feeders have already been installed in 188 aqueducts in six provinces.
PAHO representative Lilian Reneau-Vernon said during the meeting that the Ministry of Health had made great strides, but that the eradication of cholera was complex. "Only by improving public access to safe water will there be an impact on reducing diarrhea in general and mortality," she stressed, as reported in El Dia. She estimated Haiti needs around US$1 billion to eradicate cholera.
During the ceremony, Leonel Fernandez spoke by videoconference, stating that he was confident that both the Dominican Republic and Haiti would continue the fight against cholera during 2012. Fernandez hailed the plan and confirmed that Latin America and the Caribbean saw the campaign as praiseworthy, and that in his judgment it should receive the backing of the Dominican and Haitian governments. He committed to continue working to help Haiti deal with cholera and other adversities. "We believe that we can join greater efforts in 2012 with the objective of combating cholera, and in this way help relieve the suffering of our peoples," Fernandez said.
Marcus Espinal, representing both the WHO and the PAHO in Washington, congratulated the Dominican Republic for both the effort and efficiency with which they had combated the disease, and in addition for the support which they had shown to Haiti in the fight against cholera.
Minister of Economy, Planning and Development Temistocles Montas, National District Mayor Roberto Salcedo, Corporation for Aqueducts and Water Supply (CAASD) director Freddy Perez, National Institute for Potable Water and Water Supply (INAPA) director Mariano German and Armed Forces Minister Lieutenant General Joaquin Virgilio Perez Feliz, attended the ceremony, as well as members of the diplomatic corps and Haitian Ambassador Fritz Cineas, among others.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#1)