Source: United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
Date: 24 Dec 2008
Summary
The cholera emergency continues to be a key challenge and major humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe. The latest outbreak, as of 23 December 2008 has been reported in Binga district in Matabeleland North. Until recently, Matabeleland North had been spared of the outbreak.
Cumulatively, as of 23 December 2008, 24,792 suspected cases and 1,400 deaths with a case fatality rate of 5.6% have been reported. The latest summary of cholera outbreaks is tabulated below:
|
Province
|
Suspected Cases
|
Total Deaths
|
Case Fatality Rate (%)
|
Community Deaths (part of total)
|
Community Deaths as % of total
|
| Harare |
9,943
|
331
|
3.33
|
16
|
4.83
|
| Mashonaland Central |
2,029
|
130
|
6.41
|
74
|
56.92
|
| Mashonaland East |
620
|
78
|
12.58
|
69
|
88.46
|
| Mashonaland West |
5,041
|
245
|
6.06
|
140
|
57.14
|
| Matabeleland South |
3,622
|
104
|
2.87
|
30
|
28.85
|
| Manicaland |
1,668
|
136
|
8.25
|
112
|
82.35
|
| Masvingo |
1,226
|
153
|
10.85
|
102
|
76.69
|
| Bulawayo |
419
|
15
|
3.58
|
10
|
66.67
|
| Midlands |
224
|
31
|
26.4
|
29
|
93.55
|
| Grand Total |
24,792
|
1400
|
5.6
|
582
|
48.38
|
I. Situation analysis As highlighted on the table above, the outbreak continues to expand geographically and in terms of numbers. The Matabeleland North Province outbreak statistics are not included on the table because WHO is still investigating in order to establish the scale and dimension of the outbreak. Specific areas affected by cholera outbreak countrywide are shown on the map below and the 3Ws and Donor response matrix are annexed to this report.
II. Response
Health response
The health cluster is responding through provision of drugs and overall coordination of health response in collaboration with the MoH. Recently, WHO flew into Harare 21mt of medical supplies, including 8 diarrhoeal disease kits, and it also plans to airlift 10mt of Ringer lactate which could be expected in the country in the last week of December 2008.
MDM has been supporting cholera control activities in Chipinge. It has since distributed 47 cholera kits to 47 CTCs. MSF Spain, Holland and Luxembourg have established three rapid assessments/response/monitoring teams with a medical officer, logistician and Environmental Health Officer to follow-up on alerts and communication from crisis centres.
Noted Health urgent needs and areas of focus during the Christmas and New Year holidays;
- Need to strengthen cholera prevention and control due to anticipated increased movements during festive holidays
- Ensure adequate staffing and capacity for response during the festive holiday
- Reinforce capacity within WHO office for cholera response.
