IOM is working in coordination with United Nations agencies and
local authorities to combat a deadly outbreak of cholera, which has
so far claimed dozens of lives.

Current IOM activities include case finding, reporting and
hospital referrals, the deployment of nurses to the Cholera
Treatment Centres (CTC) and the provision of drugs, medical
supplies and non-food items such as protective clothing and
gumboots to health staff working at the CTCs.

IOM and its partners are also mobilizing and training volunteers
to help with health education and hygiene promotion activities
throughout the country. All volunteers are given water purification
tablets, Oral Rehydration Salts and sodium chloride to disinfect
homes and toilets where cholera cases have been reported.

IOM has also been on the forefront in providing support to the
Ministry of Health in the border town of Beitbridge, where 1,302
suspected cases and 46 deaths have so far been reported.

To increase the limited capacity to contain the disease at the
border, IOM has set up tents, provided medical personnel and
supplies, food and non-food items at the Cholera Treatment Centre
in Beitbridge.

In coordination with local authorities and the Ministry of
Health, IOM has also set up a cholera isolation unit at the Migrant
Reception and Support Centre.

There is an urgent need for drugs, intravenous fluids, Oral
Rehydration Salts, antibiotics and cholera beds to respond to the
rapid rise in suspected cholera cases.

Since February 2008, IOM has provided comprehensive responses to
reports of cholera, anthrax, scabies and diarrhoea diseases
outbreaks among Mobile and Vulnerable Populations in more than 10
districts.

Zimbabwe's health delivery system is facing serious challenges,
characterized by shortages of health staff, drugs and other medical
consumables.  The situation is exacerbated by the reduced
capacity to supply clean water in urban areas and deteriorating
sewer systems.

For further information please contact:

Erin Foster

IOM Harare

Tel: +263912572315

E-mail: "mailto:efoster@iom.int">efoster@iom.int