PSI

Ninety-five percent of child deaths related to diarrhea can be prevented by a simple and inexpensive public health solution, oral rehydration therapy. Oral rehydration therapy consists of a sugar and salt solution which is offered as a drink to children. ORT is often achieved through the provision of oral rehydration salts (ORS), a powder from which mothers can easily make solution. ORS can cost as little as $0.02 per child treated.

In 1978 the World Health Organization launched a worldwide campaign to reduce child mortality related to diarrhea, highlighting the principle role of Oral Rehydration Therapy. Between 1980 and 2003, ORT decreased diarrheal deaths among children under five from 4.6 million deaths worldwide to 2.5 million — a 60% reduction. ORS was hailed as “one of the great public health success stories of our time" by Dr. Gro Brundtland, former Director-General of the World Health Organization. Jim Grant, former director of UNICEF, would not visit a head of state without ORS in his pocket.

PSI began distributing ORS in 1985, launching its first program in Bangladesh. PSI distributes approximately 10 million sachets of ORS each year through social marketing channels and currently has ORS programs in eight countries.

Archived in
Health Areas: Child Survival, Diarrheal Disease