January 9, 2011 Cholera Update

As of January 1, 2011, the Ministère de la santé publique et de la population (MSPP) reported 3,651 deaths due to the cholera epidemic and 171,304 infections nationwide.

Over the last two months GHESKIO's two cholera treatment centers have treated 1,348 patients for cholera. In the last week alone, we received over 200 patients. 

Our Interventions:

1. Our two cholera treatment centers are functional and running. The GHESKIO staff have been trained at the CTC to learn about treatment and case management, so they are available when urgently needed.

2. We have developed a plan to prevent, control, and treat cholera in the slum of Cité de Dieu (City of God) that can serve as a model for other slums. There are three components:

            a) Provide clean water: we are providing chlorine to 61 sites selling water and we are also  providing about 3,000 gallons of clean water per day at GHESKIO.

            b) Sensitization and education campaigns in the slums with 40 trained community health workers: including sessions on oral rehydration therapy with sealed packages and home-made solutions

            c) Put in place oral rehydration therapy (ORT) units in the slum.

            d) Sanitation

3. Training:

            a) Our staff have been trained in cholera management

            b) We have developed training modules for other physicians and nurses, support personnel and community health workers