ARTICLE - CHURCH CRUSADE AGAINST CHOLERA

THE CHURCH'S CRUSADE AGAINST CHOLERA
(HaitiLibre)

The coalition Religion for Peace, which includes representatives of several christian denominations in Haiti, pledged last Tuesday in the fight against cholera, launching an extensive awareness campaign (supported by UNICEF) at the church level. During religious services, awareness messages will be disseminated to call the faithful to take hygiene measures and comply with preventive measures.

Mgr Pierre André Dumas, coordinator of "Religion for Peace, said that the fight against cholera" must not only be a matter for health authorities, but for all citizens [...] The entire nation must cope [...] we want to give a positive and constructive role to the church".

Francoise Gruloos-Ackermans, UNICEF's representative in Haiti, said that a considerable effort of outreach is necessary, but also an effort to treat people who infected. "Everyone must have good information about the disease, how to prevent it and how to prepare oral rehydration salts" recalling that cholera takes between 20 and 30 victims each day in Haiti.

PAHO / WHO and the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP) are supporting this campaign. Dr. Jocelyne Pierre Louis, Director of Family Promotion in the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP), said that health authorities continue to deploy their efforts to effectively fight against the disease.

Since the outbreak of cholera has appeared in the country (October 19, 2010), 104,918 people were infected and treated, 52,033 people were hospitalized and 2,359 people died (according to the latest report from the MSPP, dated of December 10 2010). Significant figures, but largely underestimated by the government according to health experts from the UN, who believe that these figures could be double those published.