23 September, 2016
NEW YORK. – In a Plenary Session at the 2016 Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Annual Meeting, a new Commitment—Zika Prevention and Care was featured between Batey Relief Alliance and Direct Relief to launch Zika intervention programs in Argentina, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Venezuela, and the United States – specifically in Puerto Rico, Florida, and Texas – all areas reporting incidences of Zika. Thomas Tighe, President and CEO of Direct Relief and Ulrick Gaillard, President and CEO of Batey Relief Alliance received a CGI Commitment Certificate.
The challenge: On February 1st of this year, the World Health Organization declared the Zika virus to be a public health emergency and called for a coordinated response to minimize the threat in affected locations around the world and reduce the risk of further spread. Since 2007, evidence of the Zika virus has been documented in 72 countries and territories, including 55 locations in the past year alone. Originally thought to be exclusively transmitted by mosquitos, the virus has also been sexually transmitted person-to-person. As 20 countries or terrotories have reported neonatal microcephaly and other malformations believed to be associated with the Zika virus, pregnant women and those in their childbearing years are of particular concern.
According to CGI, considering the most vulnerable populations, the multi-faceted response will include reproductive health and family planning services, prenatal care, and the dissemination of information regarding Zika and its risks.
Zika ‘modules’, to be distributed in the target locations, include the tools to perform basic diagnostics on pregnant women, screen for microcephaly, and bolster efforts to promote healthy pregnancies. Local partners will be trained on the use and distribution of supplies such as insect repellent, biodegradable mosquito traps and contraceptives, as well as portable equipment, fetal Dopplers, and digital thermometers.
The CGI community is uniquely qualified to make the short- and long-term investments needed to respond to health crises. The many lessons we are learning from the recent Ebola epidemic will no doubt prove valuable in our efforts to fight Zika.
Recently, BRA launched health-related activities that will identify, prevent, control and treat Zika virus infection cases targeting health at-risk and highly vulnerable rural communities in the Monte Plata province, Dominican Republic, through coordinated actions involving the Dominican Republic’s Ministry of Health (MoH) National Commission Against Zika and other key local actors. According to Gaillard, particular emphasis will be placed on reaching pregnant women and those of reproductive ages in the bateyes (sugarcane plantations rural communities) not using birth-control methods, as once contracted, according to the CDC, the virus will cause devastating birth defects, mainly the Microcephaly.
Text from New Commitment Announcement at 2016 CGI Annual Meeting on Monday, September 19, 2016
