Sweden and Americares Back IOM's Cholera Response
Funding from the Swedish International Development Cooperation
Agency (Sida) and in-kind contributions from the international
relief organization Americares will bolster IOM's response to the
current cholera epidemic, which continues to affect communities
throughout Zimbabwe.
The USD 620,000 pledge from Sida and 25 tons of intravenous fluids,
anti-diarrheal, anti-fever and antibacterial medications pledged by
Americares will allow IOM to expand its emergency response
activities throughout the country, with a particular emphasis on
mobile and vulnerable populations and border areas.
In Beitbridge, on the border with South Africa, IOM and its
partners continue to provide medical supplies, water purifying
tablets and chemicals to decontaminate households where suspected
cases of cholera have been reported.
IOM is also supporting the deployment of nurses and community
health volunteers in cholera treatment centres (CTC) in Beitbridge,
where IOM runs a reception and support centre, and in the districts
of Centenary, Mutare and Makoni where cholera cases are still being
reported.
Informational materials on cholera provided by the United
Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) are also being distributed by IOM
response teams to affected communities and border posts around the
country to raise awareness and to prevent the further spread of
cholera with the onset of the rainy season.
As of 10 December, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported
a total of 16,403 suspected cholera cases, and 783 deaths
nationwide. The worst affected areas are in and around Beitbridge,
Harare, Nyamapanda, Chinhoyi, and Kariba.
Since February 2008, IOM has received and responded to reports
of cholera, anthrax, scabies and diarrhoea disease outbreaks among
mobile and vulnerable communities in more than 10 districts.
For further information please contact:
Erin Foster
IOM Harare
Tel. +263912572315
E-mail:
"mailto:efoster@iom.int">efoster@iom.int