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Humanitarian Bulletin
Zimbabwe
01 ? 31 March 2013
...
Spike in Waterborne Diseases & Malaria
Swift Response by Partners Curtails Cholera
A fresh cholera outbreak, coupled with an escalation of waterborne diseases and malaria, preoccupied health partners in March.
Health partners reported a resurgence of cholera, which had, up to now been contained. Four confirmed cholera cases were reported in March, a cause for concern as one confirmed cholera case indicates an outbreak.
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) partners responded within 24 hours of receiving reports, conducting joint assessments with the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare (MOHCW), and relevant local authorities. Activities also began within 24 hours of alerts being received and included case management, daily coordination meetings, health and hygiene education, dissemination of information, education and communication (IEC) materials to 897 households who also received non-food item (NFI) kits comprising jerry cans and a month?s supply of water treatment tablets. [Sources: Health and WASH Clusters]
Long-Term Solution Required to Eradicate Typhoid
The reported cumulative figure for typhoid stood at 6,883 suspected cases, 267 confirmed cases and seven deaths by the end of March 2013, since October 2011. In comparison, by the end of March 2012 a total of 4,132 cases and two deaths had been reported.
In response, partners are engaged in various activities, including case management, door to door hygiene promotion campaigns in affected areas with emphasis on diarrhoea prevention, point of use water treatment and hand washing. Partners also distributed water treatment tablets and IEC materials targeting households and children in schools. The various response activities however, need to be buttressed by long term investments in water and sanitation infrastructure to avoid repeated outbreaks. [Sources: Health and WASH Clusters]
Common Diarrhoea and Dysentery Cases Remain High
From January to 31 March 130,876 cumulative diarrhoea cases and 93 deaths with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 0.07 per cent were reported. Partners have warned that diarrhoea cases are likely to increase, particularly among children, with the onset of winter. In comparison, during the same period in 2012 altogether 97,585 diarrhoea cases and 55 deaths were reported, reflecting a 75 per cent increase in cases.
During the same period 14,744 cumulative dysentery cases and 11 deaths were reported, reflecting a 49 per cent increase to the 9,892 cases and 54 per cent increase to the five deaths reported from January to end of February 2013. In comparison, during the same period in 2012 a total of 9,845 dysentery cases and five deaths were reported, reflecting a 67 per cent increase in cases.
The factors responsible for common diarrhoea, dysentery, typhoid and cholera are the same and relate to inadequacies in the provision of enough quality water and sanitation, poor hygiene practices, environmental contamination and poor solid and liquid waste management, especially in urban areas.
In response, partners are continuously conducting health and hygiene education, coupled with distribution of NFIs and IEC materials where cases have been reported. In Shurugwi district, Midlands province, partners conducted water trucking for seven days coupled with flushing and cleaning of contaminated boreholes and reservoirs. The situation in Chiredzi and Rusape districts is under control although surveillance continues. [Sources: Health and WASH Clusters]
Malaria Deaths Almost Double Compared to 2012
Cumulative malaria cases soared to 199,697 and 111 deaths with a CFR of 0.05 per cent between 1 January and 31 March, a major concern to partners. The 75,728 cases and 56 deaths reported in March alone represent a 61 per cent and 101 per cent increase to the 123,969 malaria cases and 55 deaths reported in the first two months of 2013.
Over the same period in 2012, a total of 109,373 cases and 84 deaths were reported with a CFR of 0.08 per cent.
The situation has been attributed to unusually high rains in January and February. In Manicaland and Mashonaland Central provinces, a significant number of cases is from across the border persons as people seek services on the Zimbabwean side. High numbers of deaths can also be attributed to high turnover of staff who are trained in case management and lack of such training among Village Health Workers in some wards.
In view of the continued escalation in cases and deaths, health partners are seeking funding from the Emergency Response Fund (ERF) and other donors to support interventions. In addition, partners are assisting with social mobilisation and health education, distribution of medical commodities, surveillance and training of village health workers in diagnosis and treatment. [Sources: Health and WASH Clusters]
...
Zimbabwe
01 ? 31 March 2013
...
Spike in Waterborne Diseases & Malaria
Swift Response by Partners Curtails Cholera
A fresh cholera outbreak, coupled with an escalation of waterborne diseases and malaria, preoccupied health partners in March.
Health partners reported a resurgence of cholera, which had, up to now been contained. Four confirmed cholera cases were reported in March, a cause for concern as one confirmed cholera case indicates an outbreak.
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) partners responded within 24 hours of receiving reports, conducting joint assessments with the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare (MOHCW), and relevant local authorities. Activities also began within 24 hours of alerts being received and included case management, daily coordination meetings, health and hygiene education, dissemination of information, education and communication (IEC) materials to 897 households who also received non-food item (NFI) kits comprising jerry cans and a month?s supply of water treatment tablets. [Sources: Health and WASH Clusters]
Long-Term Solution Required to Eradicate Typhoid
The reported cumulative figure for typhoid stood at 6,883 suspected cases, 267 confirmed cases and seven deaths by the end of March 2013, since October 2011. In comparison, by the end of March 2012 a total of 4,132 cases and two deaths had been reported.
In response, partners are engaged in various activities, including case management, door to door hygiene promotion campaigns in affected areas with emphasis on diarrhoea prevention, point of use water treatment and hand washing. Partners also distributed water treatment tablets and IEC materials targeting households and children in schools. The various response activities however, need to be buttressed by long term investments in water and sanitation infrastructure to avoid repeated outbreaks. [Sources: Health and WASH Clusters]
Common Diarrhoea and Dysentery Cases Remain High
From January to 31 March 130,876 cumulative diarrhoea cases and 93 deaths with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 0.07 per cent were reported. Partners have warned that diarrhoea cases are likely to increase, particularly among children, with the onset of winter. In comparison, during the same period in 2012 altogether 97,585 diarrhoea cases and 55 deaths were reported, reflecting a 75 per cent increase in cases.
During the same period 14,744 cumulative dysentery cases and 11 deaths were reported, reflecting a 49 per cent increase to the 9,892 cases and 54 per cent increase to the five deaths reported from January to end of February 2013. In comparison, during the same period in 2012 a total of 9,845 dysentery cases and five deaths were reported, reflecting a 67 per cent increase in cases.
The factors responsible for common diarrhoea, dysentery, typhoid and cholera are the same and relate to inadequacies in the provision of enough quality water and sanitation, poor hygiene practices, environmental contamination and poor solid and liquid waste management, especially in urban areas.
In response, partners are continuously conducting health and hygiene education, coupled with distribution of NFIs and IEC materials where cases have been reported. In Shurugwi district, Midlands province, partners conducted water trucking for seven days coupled with flushing and cleaning of contaminated boreholes and reservoirs. The situation in Chiredzi and Rusape districts is under control although surveillance continues. [Sources: Health and WASH Clusters]
Malaria Deaths Almost Double Compared to 2012
Cumulative malaria cases soared to 199,697 and 111 deaths with a CFR of 0.05 per cent between 1 January and 31 March, a major concern to partners. The 75,728 cases and 56 deaths reported in March alone represent a 61 per cent and 101 per cent increase to the 123,969 malaria cases and 55 deaths reported in the first two months of 2013.
Over the same period in 2012, a total of 109,373 cases and 84 deaths were reported with a CFR of 0.08 per cent.
The situation has been attributed to unusually high rains in January and February. In Manicaland and Mashonaland Central provinces, a significant number of cases is from across the border persons as people seek services on the Zimbabwean side. High numbers of deaths can also be attributed to high turnover of staff who are trained in case management and lack of such training among Village Health Workers in some wards.
In view of the continued escalation in cases and deaths, health partners are seeking funding from the Emergency Response Fund (ERF) and other donors to support interventions. In addition, partners are assisting with social mobilisation and health education, distribution of medical commodities, surveillance and training of village health workers in diagnosis and treatment. [Sources: Health and WASH Clusters]
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