Online
Diarrhea remains one of the top leading infectious causes of childhood mortality, responsible for about 9 percent, or an estimated 500,000 deaths in children younger than five years of age worldwide. It is also a significant contributor to child growth stunting and deficits in cognitive development, with far-reaching implications for families, communities, and emerging economies. Low-osmolarity ORS and zinc are considered to be the cornerstone of diarrhea treatment, credited with millions of lives saved. Joint administration of ORS and zinc for childhood diarrhea management has been recommended by WHO and UNICEF since 2004. However, the percentage of children with diarrhea who receive these life-saving intervention remains unacceptably low, with less than 43 percent of children who receive ORS alone, and less than 7 percent of children who receive both. This is a critical time to advance strategies toward greater local adoption and uptake – to improve and save lives.
During this webinar speakers reviewed key findings from PATH’s initiative to collect and synthesize data on key enablers and barriers to ORS-Zinc scale-up, including global and country perspectives and experiences from Zambia, Nigeria, and Pakistan. We heard from country stakeholders on successful strategies to improve uptake and tackle bottlenecks that remain. Speakers also reviewed the most current topics and updates across policy, finance, and advocacy related to broader ORS and Zinc access.
Speakers:
- Yasir Bin Nisar, Medical Officer, World Health Organization
- Simon Berry, Co-founder and CEO of ColaLife/Director, Secretariat of the ORS/Zinc Co-pack Alliance (ORSZCA)
- Francisco Blanco, Chief Quality Assurance, UNICEF Supply Division
- Dr. Mariyam Sarfraz, Director of Programs, Ministry of National Health Services Regulations and Coordination, Pakistan
- Dr. Bonface Fundafunda, Co-CEO, Africa Resource Centre
- Dr. Akalonu Ogechi, Nutrition Technical Lead, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Nigeria
Moderators:
- Joseph Monehin, Senior Child Health Advisor, USAID
- Gaurav Sharma, Principal Technical Advisor, MNCH, MPHD/Jhpiego
- Megan Christensen, Community Health Specialist, UNICEF