Cholera outbreak in Haiti hits children hardest
November 24, 2022, 6:48 am

Cholera outbreak in Haiti hits children hardest

Cholera and malnutrition are causing an increasing number of deaths in children in Haiti - File photo. Anadolu Agency

Cholera and malnutrition are causing an increasing number of deaths in children in Haiti, UNICEF warned Wednesday (Nov 23).

Two out of every five cholera patients in Haiti, or 40% of confirmed cases, are children. Nine out of 10 cases occur in areas where children suffer severe acute malnutrition, according to the UN agency.

“In Haiti right now, there is a triple threat to children’s lives –malnutrition, cholera and armed violence. And sometimes all three together,” said Manuel Fontaine, director of the Office of Emergency Programmes, during a visit to Haiti. “In just a few hours, acute watery diarrhea and vomiting dehydrate and weaken them so much they may die without timely and adequate treatment."

"Cholera and malnutrition are a lethal combination, one leading to the other,” said Fontaine.

WHO: Cholera outbreaks surging worldwide, fatality rates rising

Since the beginning of a cholera outbreak on Oct. 2, the Ministry of Health has reported almost 200 deaths and more than 10,600 suspected cases in a population of 11 million people.

The crisis and chaos have intensified in Haiti in the last few weeks after blockades by criminal gangs have caused shortages of food, water and fuel, just as the country deals with the outbreak.

Prime Minister Ariel Henry has asked the international community for military assistance to address the cholera epidemic and actions by criminal gangs.

UNICEF is appealing for $27.5 million in humanitarian assistance for health, water, hygiene and sanitation, nutrition and protection for 1.4 million people.

Source: aa

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”