Palais press briefing notes 

4 October 2022

Christian Lindmeier, WHO spokesperson

Launch of WHO’s first blueprint on dementia research

Today,  WHO’s first blueprint on dementia research will be published. 

Dementia is one of the greatest health challenges of our generation. 

It is the 7th leading cause of death globally, and yet research for dementia accounts for less than 1.5% of total health research output. 

This means we are falling behind in implementing the Global action plan on the public health response to dementia 2017-25. 

Research and innovation must be an integral part of the response if we are to comprehensively address dementia. 

Cholera outbreak in Haiti

Cholera has just reappeared in Haiti exactly 12 years after the historic first outbreak in 2010 following the earthquake, which affected at least 820,000 people and caused 9,800 deaths. In February 2022, Haiti celebrated 3 years without a single case of confirmed cholera case and was preparing to submit to the GTFCC its case for cholera-free status certification at the end of 2022.

Over the 1-2 October weekend, the National Laboratory confirmed the presence of Vibrio cholerae O1 in two samples. Media reports later in the day covered a press conference by the MOH where 7 to 8 deaths were announced.

The area affected on 2 October were Cite Soleil and Carrefour Feuille, which are areas entirely controlled by gangs and where clashes took place last August and displaced several thousand people. This situation greatly complicates the humanitarian response.  The situation is evolving rapidly, and it is possible earlier cases have been undetected. The surveillance mechanism set up by the Haitian Government, with the support of PAHO/WHO and other partners, is operating under extremely difficult circumstances. This is especially the case in the affected area, where gang activity is rampant, and the socio-political situation in the past weeks has further complicated access.

Access to these areas has been very difficult since the end of July 2022 and the situation in Haiti has worsened over the past three weeks with blockades, fuel shortages, protest marches, looting and general strikes. These factors fuel the humanitarian crisis and hamper response efforts. Health institutions and hospitals are beginning to close their doors due to fuel shortages and healthcare workers are unable to commute to work. Patients encounter the same difficulties due to lack of transportation and roadblocks around the metropolitan area. Electricity power supply problems affect the population's access to water, which will aggravate the already precarious situation. In the areas affected by violence, malnutrition was already present and will worsen and increase vulnerability.

PAHO/WHO is working hand in hand with the Ministry of Health and other UN agencies and international partners to coordinate the response for the control and prevention of cholera. PAHO/WHO is also supporting partners on the ground with the distribution of essential medicines and equipment, such as tents for setting up cholera treatment centres (CTC), but also to increase the capacity for in-house disinfection efforts to contain the spread of the disease.

A request is being prepared to be submitted to the International Coordination Group (ICG) for the procurement of Oral Cholera Vaccines (OCV).

PAHO issued an epidemiological Alert on the situation on 2 October: https://www.paho.org/en/documents/epidemiological-alert-resurgence-cholera-haiti-2-october-2022

Media contacts:
mediainquiries@who.int

You are receiving this NO-REPLY email because you are included on a WHO mail list.
If you have been forwarded this update you can click here to subscribe.
Journalists may send feedback to WHO Media Team