Eng Cholera West Africa Who Unicef Pr Sept5
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Transcript of Eng Cholera West Africa Who Unicef Pr Sept5
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7/31/2019 Eng Cholera West Africa Who Unicef Pr Sept5
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UN Agencies warn that cholera epidemic is spreading in
West AfricaFatality rate especially high in some countries
Dakar/ Brazzaville, 5 September 2012 - The World Health Organization (WHO) andUNICEF, are warning that the current cholera emergency in West Africa is set to get much
worse as rains and floods create the conditions for the disease to spread faster and further.
Already this year a total of 55,289 cases of cholera have been reported in 15 countries andjust over 1109 people have died. The disease is spreading fast in the countries of the ManoRiver Basin (Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone) as well as along the river Congo, (affectingpeople in both the republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo),and in westernNiger.
The number of new cholera cases has been made worse this year in some of the mostaffected countries by exceptionally heavy rains that have flooded shanty towns in some urbancentres.
The number of cases so far this year in West and Central Africa is 34% more compared to thesame period in 2011, and represents a deteriorating trend as many more can be expected inthe rainy season. In the region fatality rates can range up to 8%, which is unacceptably high.
Urgent action needs to be taken in critical areas to help stop the spread of this disease, saidWHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Sambo. Governments need to declare emergencyearly so as to benefit from the necessary technical and other support of partners. Just ascrucial are better surveillance and cross-border collaboration between health authorities.
Cholera is a disease caused by poor sanitation and can be contracted by eating or drinkingcontaminated food or liquids. Poor health services mean that treatment may be late orinadequate. The disease is often associated with the poorest and most vulnerable as they are
the least likely to have access to latrines or a supply of clean water. WHO teams in theaffected countries are working with the governments to ensure an effective response, whileUNICEF is supplying equipment, chlorine and medicines.Public health measures must become much more of a priority for governments, said ManuelFontaine, the Acting UNICEF Director for West and Central Africa. We are now seeingchildren and their families falling prey to a disease that is avoidable. WHO, governments andagencies such as ourselves are mounting an emergency response. But we need to seeinvestment so that when a mother gives a child a drink she doesnt wonder if it will kill.
About WHO
WHO is the directing and coordinating authority on international health within the UnitedNations system. With people working in over 147 countries, WHO is responsible for providingleadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms andstandards, articulating evidence- based policy options, providing technical support to countriesand monitoring and assessing health trends. In addition to medical doctors, public healthspecialists, scientists and epidemiologists, WHO staff include people trained to manageadministrative, financial, and information systems, as well as experts in the fields of healthstatistics, economics and emergency relief, working together to ensure better health for all.For more information, please visit: www.who.int
About UNICEF
http://www.who.int/http://www.who.int/ -
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UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from earlychildhood through adolescence. The worlds largest provider of vaccines for developingcountries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basiceducation for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and
AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses,foundations and governments. For more information about UNICEF and its work visit:www.unicef.org
For more information, please contact:
UNICEF Regional Office for West and Central Africa, Dakar, SenegalMartin Dawes [email protected] - Mobile +221 77 569 19 26Laurent Duvillier [email protected] Mobile +221 77 740 35 77
WHO Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, CongoDr Benido Impouma: Mobile +242066605880 [email protected] Zabulon Yoti: Mobile +242068251838 [email protected] Ajibola Mobile + 242066537022 [email protected]
http://www.unicef.org/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.unicef.org/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]
