ARTICLE - FERNANDEZ - MARTELLY - CHOLERA

FERNANDEZ AND MARTELLY WANT TO ERADICATE CHOLERA FROM THE ISLAND OF HISPANIOLA
(Haiti Libre) -

Bautista Rojas Gómez, the Minister of Health of the Dominican Republic, said yesterday Sunday, that Wednesday, will be held the launch of the strategic plan of action to accelerate the eradication of cholera from the island of Hispaniola.

Bautista Rojas Gómez has indicated that the initiative will involve the Dominican government through the Ministry of Public Health, the Haitian authorities, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as cooperation agencies, non-governmental organizations and international organizations.

The activity will take place at the Salon "Las Cariátides" of the National Palace, from 9:00 am, with the intervention of President Leonel Fernández and his Haitian counterpart, Michel Martelly which will launch a call to the action of the international community to eradicate cholera. Dr. Mirta Roses, PAHO Director, will be for this event, live from the headquarters of the organization in Washington.

The Dominican Minister of Health, declared that among the common prevention strategies to be implemented to strengthen interventions for the struggle and the eradication of cholera on the island of Hispaniola, include: the improvement of access to drinking water, including supply sources in homes and communities through the chlorination of water; the intensification of the promotion of good hygiene practices; other preventive measures for public health policies; practices to promote safe food handling, of excreta and solid waste; evaluation of cholera vaccines administered orally through pilot projects and provide clinical care and quality treatment...

"In the short to medium term, with the support of the international community, the joint work of the Haitian and Dominicans authorities, the objective is to arrive at a point where cholera is no longer endemic to the island of Hispaniola" stressed the Minister who added that "all the details of the meeting are ready and Wednesday, major initiatives will be unveiled, with an integrated approach to combat the disease on the island. An appeal will be launched for the participation of existing partners and the incorporation of new ones.