As growing numbers of cholera cases spread to border areas, IOM has
been tasked by the United Nations / Inter-Agency Standing Committee
(UN/IASC) Health cluster to lead a coordinated response to the
crisis in border areas in Manicaland, Matabeleland North and
Mashonaland West provinces.

IOM and its NGO partners, working in close cooperation with the
Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, are now responding to cholera
outbreaks in 12 of 48 affected districts, including Beitbridge,
Plumtree, Chirundu and Sango.

Activities include setting up and managing Cholera Treatment
Centres (CTCs) at the Beitbridge and Plumtree Reception and Support
Centers (PRSC) – facilities that normally assist returning
migrants from South Africa and Botswana respectively.

IOM and its partners are also supporting a further 22 CTCs with
drugs, medical supplies, transport, fuel, soap, aqua tabs, health
education and hygiene promotion.

In Beitbridge district on the South African border, 90 people
had died of cholera as of December 18th. 

On the South African side of the border in Musina, IOM
Beitbridge is distributing water. Decontamination sprayers are now
also being sent to Chaswingo and Chamnangana to help local health
authorities cope with outbreaks in those areas.

IOM Plumtree PRSC on the Botswana border remains on standby, in
the event of an outbreak. It has received drugs and supplies,
including cholera beds, to ensure that a CTC can be established
within hours of an outbreak.

Chirundu on the Zambian border has seen 17 admissions at the
Chirundu Clinic, a designated CTC, with 4 deaths reported as of 17
December 2008. Following an assessment, IOM, in coordination with
the local authorities, is mobilizing resources to provide medical
supplies, IV fluids and support staff.

Matabeleland North and Victoria Falls on the Zambian and
Botswana borders have no reported cases, but IOM is continuing to
monitor the situation.

In Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's second largest city, 139 cases have been
reported, with nine deaths to date. Efforts are underway to further
assess and respond to this situation with the local authorities and
the UN Health and WASH clusters.

IOM is also working with local authorities in Manicaland to make
assessments and provide surveillance in the border areas,
particularly Forbes and Espungabeira on the Mozambique border.

Initial reports suggest that the authorities have introduced
hand washing and foot tray disinfection on the Mozambican side of
the border.  Currently 46 individuals are being treated at the
Manzvire CTC in Chipinge, with 2 recorded deaths so far.

Zimbabwe is currently experiencing a cholera outbreak with more
than 20,000 cases and 1,123 deaths nationwide as of 18 December.
The overall case fatality rate is 5.3 per cent, but has reportedly
reached up to 20 to 30 per cent in remote areas.

Population movements and the onset of the rainy season are
further exacerbating an already devastated infrastructure for water
treatment, sewage and medical care. There are rising concerns that
cholera may become endemic in Zimbabwe. 

To date, IOM has received funding from the Swedish International
Development Cooperation Agency (USD 620,000), the Australian
Government Overseas Aid Program (AUD 200,000) and in-kind
contributions from the international relief organization
Americares.

For further information please contact:

Erin Foster

IOM Harare

Tel: +263 912 572 315

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