USAID/Guinea: USAID Donates Hand Soap In Campaign Against Cholera

SEPTEMBER 4, 2007

USAID Donates Hand Soap
In Campaign Against Cholera

Soap to be distributed to 35,000 households in support of Public Health Ministry's campaign against waterborne disease.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has donated hand soap to 35,000 Conakry households in support of a government education campaign aimed at stemming a severe cholera outbreak in and around Guinea's capital.

More than 3,274 cases of cholera have resulted in 113 deaths in the first eight months of the year in Conakry and seven of Guinea's 33 prefectures, according Guinea's Ministry of Public Health. More than half the reported cases and nearly half the deaths have occurred in the capital, with the remainder in the prefectures of Gueckedou, Dubreka, Forecariah, Coyah, Fria, Boffa and Kindia.

U.S. Chargé d'Affaires Kent C. Brokenshire joined Sangaré Maïmouna Bah, the Guinean Minister of Public Health, at the ceremony.

A water-borne disease, cholera typically peaks during the summer rainy season, when city sewers overflow and flood low-lying neighborhoods. Experts say practicing good hygiene - including hand-washing - is the simplest and most effective way of combating the disease.

The soap, valued at 25 million Guinean francs (about $6,500), will be distributed door-to-door by local organizations in the Matam neighborhood of Conakry, with one bar of soap going to each household. The neighborhoods of Matam, Matoto and Ratoma have been hardest hit in Conakry.

"The American government salutes this day of awareness organized by the Ministry of Health and hopes this donation contributes to improved hygiene for Conakry's inhabitants, who are the most affected by this cholera epidemic," said Kent C. Brokenshire, Deputy Chief of Mission for the U.S. Embassy. "I am certain that this modest gift from the American government to Guineans will have an impact in the fight against cholera."

Guinea's health minister, Sangaré Maïmouna Bah, officially launched the anti-cholera campaign on Aug. 31.

Story and photo by Richard Stirba