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Zimbabwe: deaths from cholera rising, unchecked
10-02-2009 Photo gallery
A cholera epidemic struck Zimbabwe around August 2008. By December over 1,000 had succumbed to it. Today the death toll has trebled.
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The number of lives lost to cholera has risen steadily since the onset of the epidemic late last year and now surpasses 3,000. In addition, nearly 60,000 cases have been reported. This is the worst epidemic to hit the country in 14 years and could not have struck at a worse time, considering the hardships and challenges that Zimbabwe is already facing.
This makeshift cholera treatment unit is in Nyamupamira, a village in Makonde district in Mashonaland West province, 180 kms from Harare. It is one of nine units set up by government health authorities and supported by the ICRC. The units were established to bring medical assistance closer to rural communities since they cannot afford to travel to health facilities. The closest health clinic to Nyamupamira is 30 kms away.
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Lack of transport is a major constraint in the area. Most patients arrive from nearby villages on wheelbarrow.
An estimated 80% of the deaths from cholera occur at home since infected people lack the means to travel to medical units located too far away.
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Health workers at the cholera treatment unit examine the patient before admission. The tent serves as the consultation room. The ICRC donated eight of the eleven tents at this unit.
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Acute dehydration due to vomiting and diarrhoea are the main causes of death in cholera patients. Direct intravenous re-hydration and drinking oral re-hydration salt solutions are crucial in fighting dehydration.
The ICRC has supplied some 3,250 litres of intravenous fluids, 1,500 packs of oral re-hydration salts, 10,000 antibiotic tablets, other medical materials and protective garments to the health authorities in Makonde district to help treat cholera patients and control the spread of the disease.
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The chlorine-based spray disinfects in order to control the spread of the cholera infection.
The bacteria that cause the disease are often spread through contact with infected people. Such contact includes handshakes.
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The ICRC has teams in Makonde district that are promoting the prevention of cholera by spraying the households of patients and raising communities’ awareness of basic hygiene.
The organization is also working in Kadoma and Chegutu towns in Makonde district to improve water and sanitation and thereby promote the prevention of water-borne diseases.
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The ICRC is providing food for the patients and staff at cholera treatment units in Makonde district.
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