| 11 Janvier 2012
Moving from cholera control to cholera elimination through essential investments in water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure
WHAT: A press briefing in which the governments of Haiti and the Dominican Republic, together with the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), UNICEF, and other key partners, will launch a Call to Action for a Cholera-Free Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic).
WHEN: Wednesday, January 11, 2012, 9 to 9:50 a.m.
Q&A will follow – Light breakfast at 8:30 a.m.
WHERE: PAHO/WHO, 525 Twenty-third Street, NW, Washington, DC
(Four blocks from Foggy Bottom Metro Station)
Simultaneous launches will be held at the Ministry of Health of Haiti, Port-au-Prince, Haiti; and at the National Palace, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
WHO: Dr. Mirta Roses, Director, PAHO/WHO
Dr. Kevin De Cock, Director, Center for Global Health, CDC
Sanjay Wijesekera, Chief, Water and Sanitation, UNICEF
H.E. Michel Joseph Martelly, President of the Republic of Haiti (via video)
H.E. Leonel Fernández, President of the Dominican Republic (via video)
CONTEXT: Haiti is experiencing one of the largest cholera epidemics in modern history. Eliminating cholera from the island of Hispaniola will require dramatic improvements in water and sanitation services. PAHO, CDC and UNICEF are suggesting four concrete steps to continue saving lives and reducing disease in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. While the international community has supported the governments of Haiti and the Dominican Republic in implementing cholera prevention and control interventions, major investments in infrastructure and institutional capacity to operate it, are needed to keep cholera from becoming endemic in Haiti. Even before the earthquake exactly two years ago, population access to improved water and sanitation in Haiti was far below levels in other Latin American and Caribbean countries, and the situation has only grown worse. It is time to act.
HOW: Press briefing will be in person at PAHO, or you can log in remotely and ask questions via Elluminate using the link provided below.
The briefing can also be viewed on Livestream via the link below (chat available). Questions may be phoned in or e-mailed to one of the contacts below.
You can also follow the event on Facebook (link below) or tweet your questions (@pahowho @opsoms #StopCholera
NOTE: PLEASE COPY AND PASTE THE LINKS IN A NEW BROWSER.
ELLUMINATE:
Room in English: www.paho.org/virtual/PressConference
Room in Spanish: www.paho.org/virtual/ConferenciadePrensa
Room in French: www.paho.org/virtual/ConferencedePresse
LIVESTREAM: www.livestream.com/paho (floor audio, English)
QUESTIONS BY EMAIL OR SOCIAL MEDIA:
During this press conference, questions can also be sent through:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pahowho
Twitter: @pahowho or @opsoms Hashtag: #NoMoreCholera
Or by email: Contacts below
