Chelsea Clinton launches diarrhea project in Nigeria

Chelsea Clinton is in Nigeria promoting the issue of diarrhea prevention — a topic she freely admits many people would rather avoid talking about.

"It makes them feel squeamish," the 32-year-old told Reuters, adding: "It's important that we shine a light on these problems and then get to the business of solving them."

Clinton, daughter of former US President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, on Tuesday joined Nigerian officials in backing an effort to stop the deaths of one million mothers and children each year from preventable causes, Reuters reported.

This includes 100,000 deaths in Nigeria from diarrhea. Many of these deaths are preventable by expanded access to zinc and oral rehydration solutions (ORS), according to her father's Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), on whose board Chelsea Clinton sits.

"Zinc and ORS can prevent over 90 percent of diarrhea-related deaths and cost less than $0.50, yet less than 2 percent of children in the country are currently using the complete treatment," a statement from CHAI said.

"It is unconscionable that in the 21st century, children still die of diarrhea," Chelsea Clinton told Reuters from Nigeria's capital, Abuja.

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