DHA-GENEVA 95/0125
(DHA IS ISSUING THIS UPDATE AT THE
REQUEST OF WHO)
IN FEBRUARY 1995, THE WHO DIVISION OF EMERGENCY AND HUMANITARIAN ACTION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE GLOBAL TASK FORCE ON CHOLERA CONTROL LAUNCHED AN APPEAL FOR INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR CHOLERA EPIDEMIC CONTROL IN LAO PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC. AT THAT TIME, WHO DESCRIBED THE SERIOUS DIFFICULTIES FACED BY LAOS IN CONTROLLING CHOLERA OUTBREAKS, AND WARNED OF THE THREAT OF THE RECURRENCE OF A LARGE CHOLERA OUTBREAK IN 1995 UNLESS URGENT PREVENTIVE ACTION WAS TAKEN. THREE WEEKS LATER, LAOS AUTHORITIES OFFICIALLY REPORTED 244 CHOLERA CASES, INCLUDING 34 DEATHS, IN SEKONG PROVINCE, CONFIRMING WHO PREDICTIONS. THE CASE FATALITY RATE IN LAOS CONTINUES TO BE UNACCEPTABLY HIGH.
CONTROL EFFORTS TO DATE
THE GOVERNMENT HAS RELEASED APPROXIMATELY 23 MILLION KIPS (USD 32 000) FOR THE SUPPORT OF CHOLERA CONTROL. THE FUNDS WERE MAINLY USED FOR THE PROCUREMENT OF SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT.
WHO REGIONAL OFFICE FOR THE WESTERN PACIFIC (WPRO) HAS DONATED USD 9 100 FOR THE PROCUREMENT OF EMERGENCY SUPPLIES (ORS, IV FLUIDS, ETC.), TRANSLATION AND REPRODUCTION OF THE WHO PUBLICATION ENTITLED GUIDELINES FOR CHOLERA CONTROL, AND FOR A NATIONAL CHOLERA WORKSHOP.
WHO HAS CONTINUED TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE ACTIVITIES OF THE NATIONAL DIARRHOEAL DISEASE CONTROL (CDD) PROGRAMME, WHICH IS BEING IMPLEMENTED BY THE INSTITUTE OF MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH.
UNICEF HAS PROVIDED APPROXIMATELY USD 6 600 FOR THE PROCUREMENT OF ORS FOR ON THE SPOT SUPPLY, AND USD 1 500 FOR THE NATIONAL CHOLERA WORKSHOP.
JICA HAS COLLABORATED IN BOTH THE STRENGTHENING OF THE CAPACITY OF THE REFERRAL LABORATORY OF NIHE AND IN FIELD INVESTIGATIONS, AND HAS PROVIDED USD 2 000 FOR THE NATIONAL CHOLERA WORKSHOP.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES NEEDED IMMEDIATELY
AS OUTLINED IN THE APPEAL DOCUMENT, THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF ACTIVITIES AMOUNTS TO USD 375 500.
ON 15 MARCH 1995, THE MISSION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM PLEDGED A CONTRIBUTION OF USD 100 000 FOR CONTROL EFFORTS. THE OUTSTANDING DEFICIT IS USD 275 500.
WITH THIS UPDATE, WHO WISHES TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THE DIFFICULT SITUATION FACED BY LAO PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC, AND RENEWS ITS A PPEAL FOR ASSISTANCE TO IMPLEMENT AN ADEQUATE CHOLERA EPIDEMIC CONTROL PROGRAMME.
WHO ORGANIZATION, GENEVA
TELEPHONE: +41-22-791.2752
TELEGRAMS: UNISANTE GENEVA
TELEX: 415416
FAX: +41-22-791-4844 EHA, ATT: DIRECTOR,
EHA
WHO REPRESENTATIVE IN LAO PDR, VIENTIANE
DR. NESBIT
TELEPHONE: +856-21-41-3023
FAX: +865-21-41-3432