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PAHO Director, Dr.
Etienne’s message on Haiti:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClIwQn59PAc
“It gives me great
pleasure as Director of the Pan American Health Organization, to congratulate
the Haitian government for an impressive achievement—the presentation of a
national plan of action for eliminating the transmission of cholera. I know
that great commitment and effort have gone into the development of this plan,
which is ambitious yet achievable. When fully implemented, it will bring improvements
in water and sanitation infrastructure and health system capacity that will
help ensure that neither cholera nor any other waterborne disease will ever
again produce a major public health crisis in Haiti.
The
Haitian people are resourceful and resilient. In the quake’s aftermath, we
recognize that it was Haitians themselves who responded first and saved many
lives. But I also believe that the overwhelming response of people,
organizations and other countries around the world—including your devoted
neighbor, the Dominican Republic—was one of the finer displays of international
solidarity in recent history.
Today,
the Haitian government is giving us the opportunity to do what needs to be
done. This plan when implemented can and will finally halt cholera transmission
in Haiti and ensure that any future introduction of the disease can be quickly
controlled.
But
for the plan to be implemented, Haiti’s friends in the international community
must align their efforts and harmonize around this plan and provide the
necessary financial resources.
I
applaud the efforts of the Haitian authorities and in the name of PAHO we pledge half a million dollars to support the
installation of water and sanitation connections in a number of primary health
care centers in priority zones.
We
further reiterate our commitment to support the government and people of Haiti
in National health development.
We
will work with Coalition partners to implement this plan. And I call on the
entire international community to play your part in protecting and promoting
the health and well-being of our Haitian brothers and sisters.
Thank
you. |
