Dear All
I thought many of you might be interested in this "thought piece" published this week on the BMJ.
Global Health Blog: Expanding ORS/zinc coverage for childhood diarrhoea: is institutionalising free distribution the answer? <https://blogs.bmj.com/bmjgh/2024/11/25/expanding-ors-zinc-coverage-for-c... by
Jane Berry, Rohit Ramchandani and me.
On the 20th anniversary of the recommendation that childhood diarrhoea should be treated with ORS and Zinc, the coverage rate is just 18%. Diarrhoea remains the second biggest infectious killer of under 5 children.
This blog post builds on the experience of the authors in Zambia and draws on evidence from elsewhere to argue that a new strategy to increase ORS/Zinc coverage is required. It makes a case for a shift away from disparate interventions to improve coverage to a 'systems change' approach which would institutionalise the free distribution of ORS and Zinc and argues that this would give a high return on investment if implemented
alongside local manufacturing.
Your comments please! Either here or on the BMJ blog.
Regards
Simon
CHIFA profile:
Simon Berry has worked to increase access to ORS and Zinc for the treatment of diarrhoea in children. He co-founded ColaLife and the ORS/Zinc Co-pack Alliance (ORSZCA). In 2023 he was awarded an OBE for services to global child health. Professional interests: System change for better child health, Institutionalising innovation, ORS/Zinc. sxberry AT gmail.com
