Extensive use of Oral Rehydration Salt (ORS). is saving the lives of thousands of diarrhoea stricken children in the cyclone ravaged coastal area.

The demand for ORS surged, with prices hitting three times normal in local pharmacies. Rural mothers in Bangladesh know its value. Now prices have normalised and almost every mother in the coastal belt has a few packets.

The government and Non-Govemment organisations have distributed adequate ORS packets among the distressed people of the coastal areas and the off-shore islands to save many lives. Almost four million half-litre packets have been procured by UNICEF for this distribution.

Bangladesh Biman. the national flag carrier, has flown in 350.000 ORS packets from Bangkok and is expected to

carry one million such packets. all free of freight charges.

But UNICEF emphasises local production. 150 tons of glucose and 32 tons of citrate, the Ingredients of ORS. have been flown in from Germany to keep local ORS manufacturers going. UNICEF estimates that the costs of ORS procurement is reduced by 50% when locally manufactured.

Much attention has been given to ORS and tubewells. However, ORS does not prevent nor cure diarrhoea — it saves the person attacked from dehydration. Similarly, tubewells will not stop the spread of diarrhoea if there are not enough latrines in the community.

The combination of self sufficiency in ORS production, tubewell water and a latrine in every house will dramatically reduce diarrhoeal diseases. Diarrhoea is a chronic longterm problem