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Haiti: Oxfam responds to cholera crisis
Oct 24, 2010Aid agency already reaching 25,000
Oxfam's health advisor Raphael Mutiku said:
"We are obviously concerned about the spread of cholera to Port-au-Prince. However, earthquake victims living in and around the capital have better access to clean water, latrines, and better knowledge of good hygiene practices than in rural areas. We have been doing ongoing educational sessions in dozens of camps ever since the earthquake struck.
"We are working as quickly as possible to stop the spread of cholera. We have a lot of resources in the country right now, and luckily, this is a very preventable and treatable disease. Oxfam will reach over 25,000 on Sunday with distribution of water tablets, rehydration salts packs, and bars of soap. The goal is to stop the spread in the region of Petite Riviere by Wednesday. We were assigned this region, which covers about 100,000 people.
"Our hygiene messages are already reaching tens of thousands on the local radio. We are well aware that it's spreading, but cholera is very preventable, so as soon as appropriate prevention programs like these are put in place, we can very quickly control its spread."
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