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Global Compact International Yearbook 2013
ZACH aims to make the management of
childhood diarrhea a key part of reduc-
ing child mortality. ZACH works with all
levels of government to help ensure the
availability of supplies and treatment
that is affordable for families, communi-
ties, and the wider health system.
Zinc Alliance for Child Health
reaches communities in Africa
The first partnership under ZACH was
formed between Canadian partners the
Micronutrient Initiative, the Government
of Canada, and Teck in 2011.
ZACH’s first project was launched in
Senegal in May 2012 in support of that
country’s Ministry of Health plan to
dramatically scale-up zinc treatments for
children aged six months to five years.
The project aims to treat more than
2
million cases of diarrhea in Senegalese
children under the age of five over the
next three years. Zinc and ORS treatment
is being delivered by healthcare workers
at 4,000 health facilities across Senegal.
To date, the project has supplied 39,000
zinc treatments to health facilities and
treated more than 8,000 cases of diar-
rhea with zinc and ORS. As a result of
ongoing advocacy and consultation by
ZACH, zinc and ORS are now provided
free of charge in public health facilities
by the Ministry of Health in Senegal.
This is significantly improving access
to treatment for the country’s poorest
populations. In February 2013, ZACH
launched two major projects in Burkina
Faso and Ethiopia that will save more
young lives.
The Zinc Alliance for Child Health (ZACH) brings together
Canadian organizations committed to accelerating the use of
zinc and ORS around the world to treat diarrhea, one of the
leading killers of children. More infants die from diarrhea-
related illnesses associated with zinc deficiency than from
HIV/AIDS, malaria, and measles combined.
Saving Lives Around the
World with Zinc
Teck
By Kathleen Reid, Teck
A young girl in the village of N’Gomene Keur Atou in the Thies region of Senegal waves
a Canadian flag. The Thies region was the first in the country to scale-up zinc and oral
rehydration salts (ORS) to treat diarrhea.