The most convincing argument for the use of ORS is that it saves lives! This slide compares diarrhoeal case-fatality and mortality rates in two communities in rural Bangladesh: Shamlapur where ORS was given for about 80% of diarrhoeas, and Bordil where ORS was used for 38% of diarrhoeas. Note that in each age group the rates were significantly lower in Shamlapur. For this reason, oral rehydration therapy should be widely implemented in national health programmes as an immediate way of reducing mortality due to acute diarrhoeas.