Southern Africa: Weekly Report (10 to 16 December 2013)

Angola:

According to WHO there is an ongoing cholera outbreak in the south in Cunene and Namibe provinces. A Cholera Treatment Centre (CTC) has been established. A total of 156 cholera cases have been treated at the CTC, and 3 people suffering from cholera have died.

Madagascar:

The second round of presidential elections will be held on 20 December 2013. No major incidents have been registered, however there were reports of some tension between supporters of the presidential candidates while posting propaganda flyers in Antananarivo, which resulted in serious injury to 1 supporter of candidate Robinson.

A bubonic/pneumonic plague has been confirmed in 4 districts. Between September and 5 December 2013, 42 deaths were recorded. The MoH has decided not to declare an epidemic situation, as all cases are recorded in very isolated areas. Response is underway. Any eventual epidemic outbreak of the plague could jeopardize the elections in the affected areas as no movement or concentration of people will be authorized.

A pilot IPC food insecurity assessment conducted in the south and south-east , established that 4 districts are classified as a food security emergency and 9 districts as a food security crisis, affecting at least 20% of the rural population in both areas respectively. The Food Security Cluster will continue the analysis and decide if an appeal should be launched with other key sectors or not.

Namibia:

According to a WHO report, acute malnutrition rates are high in Omusati region. Food shortage due to drought and inadequate child care by their grandmothers are cited as main reasons for severe under-nutrition among the young children. The Expanded Programme of Immunization (EPI) does not seem to be meeting all needs. This information has still to be communicated through the Health Information System (HIS) to the national level.