Oral Rehydration Salts
In 2004, UNICEF procured over $2.1 million worth of oral
rehydration salts (ORS) and introduced a new low osmolarity
formula. This represents 40 million sachets.
Two decades ago, diarrhoea was responsible for around five
million deaths annually. Through major public health efforts
to prevent and treat dehydration, this has decreased to around
two million. The combination of increased home fluids and
the use of oral rehydration salts have proven very effective
in the prevention of childhood deaths from diarrhoea.
For more than 25 years, UNICEF and WHO have recommended a
single formulation of glucose-based ORS to prevent or treat
dehydration from diarrhoea. UNICEF, along with WHO and others,
undertook extensive consultations and research to improve
the formulation further. As a result, in 2004 Supply Division
launched the new Low Osmolarity Oral Rehydration Salts, which
have now replaced the previous ORS formulation. This new formulation
now combats diarrhoea directly, as well as treating the dehydration
resulting from it.
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Technical bulletin: New formulation of Oral Rehydration
Salts (ORS) with reduced osmolarity