Zimbabwe

Highlights

In the southern African region, maize prices continue to show mixed trends. In countries such as Malawi and South Africa, national average maize prices have been on an upward trend, while in others, such as Tanzania and Zambia, they have remained relatively stable. In Zambia, however, this belies price increases in pockets of areas which experienced a poor harvest. A look at the Alert for Price Spikes (ALPS) shows more markets in Zambia experiencing stress earlier this year.

OVERVIEW

This Weekly Bulletin focuses on selected acute public health emergencies occurring in the WHO African Region. The WHO Health Emergencies Programme is currently monitoring 58 events in the region. This week’s edition covers key ongoing events, including:

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

"Access to education is a fundamental human right. It is essential to the acquisition of knowledge and to the full development of the human personality, as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states. More than that, education makes us more resilient and independent individuals."
Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

12 October 2018, Harare – The UN Resident Coordinator Mr Bishow Parajuli and the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Hon July Moyo today signed USD 3 million allocation from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) in response to the Cholera outbreak.

The CERF which will be implemented by UNICEF, WHO and WFP was also signed by Dr. Mohamed Ag Ayoya, UNICEF Representative; Dr. Alex Gasasira, WHO Representative; and Mr. Eddie Rowe, WFP Representative.

Further increase in staple food prices expected through the lean season

Key Messages

TSHOLOTSHO – At Tsholotsho Hospital today, the Government of Japan officially handed over a contribution of US$ 1 million to enhance the resilience of drought- and flood-affected communities in Zimbabwe through a comprehensive set of health, nutrition, food security and WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) interventions. The project is being implemented by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in collaboration with the Government of Zimbabwe.

Africa needs inclusive health and educational systems that eliminate the stigma around mental illness.

By Stellah Kwasi

The negative impact of armed conflict on the mental health of combatants is well documented. But it wasn’t until about two decades ago that literature on the effect of conflict on civilians began emerging.

This Weekly Bulletin focuses on selected acute public health emergencies occurring in the WHO African Region. The WHO Health Emergencies Programme is currently monitoring 58 events in the region. This week’s edition covers key new and ongoing events, including:

The state of the Right to Peace in Zimbabwe as the Declaration of Human Rights turns 70

Introduction

HIGHLIGHTS

More than 400,000 people across the region have been affected by floods and cyclones in 2018.

There is a 65-70 per cent probability of an El Niño event between December and February, as compared with a 90 per cent probability ahead of the same period in 2015 - 2016.

People in two districts in Madagascar and three in Zimbabwe are facing Emergency food insecurity.

KEY MESSAGES

Highlights

10 out of the 21 countries in Eastern and Southern Africa Region (ESAR) have reported more than 34,109 cholera / AWD cases and 412 deaths (Case Fatality Rate, 1.2%), since the beginning of 2018. These countries include; Angola, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe accounts for 25.7 % of the total case load reported this year, followed by Somalia at 17.9%.

By Andrea García Giribet

For over two decades, theatre groups in Zimbabwe have been changing the understanding of human rights in their communities, one play at a time.

Since the last Disease Outbreak News was published on 20 September (with data as of 15 September), an additional 4914 cases have been reported including 92 confirmed cases.

Ethiopia

Over 15,000 Eritreans crossed into Ethiopia as of 26 September after two border crossing points were opened, with many traveling to refugee settlements. It brings the total number of Eritrean refugees in the Tigray region to almost 46,000 people.

Humanitarian assistance needs to be scaled up in the region to respond to this new influx of refugees.

Read more about Ethiopia

Palestine

• As of 2 October, 8,435 cholera cases with 49 deaths (8,273 suspected and 162 confirmed cases) had been reported. An estimated 21 per cent of the reported cases are children under five years of age.

• A total of 98 per cent of the cases are from Harare (Budiriro and Glen View high density suburbs), which is the epicentre of the outbreak.
Over the past week, there has been geographic spread to other suburbs.