Summary: CHF 203,419 was allocated from the IFRC's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) on 26 October, 2009 to support the Cameroon Red Cross national society in delivering assistance to some 800,000 beneficiaries.
Twenty health districts were hit by a cholera outbreak in the North and Far North regions of Cameroon in October 2009. The funds allocated from DREF enabled the Cameroon Red Cross National Society to train 495 volunteers who in turn conducted health education in the various neighbourhoods affected. In addition, the identified cholera cases were referred to the nearest health centres. The trained volunteers also distributed sanitation materials which were used to disinfect latrines, treat water points, clean gutters and organise cleanliness days in the market places of the affected localities. In addition, buckets with covers and taps were distributed to restaurants in the affected localities for clients to wash their hands. Red Cross volunteers also distributed metal roofing sheets to cover latrines and water wells, and chemicals for disinfecting water. This operation to respond to the cholera outbreak has been successful, and as a result of the Federation's DREF contribution the outbreak is now under control. The Cameroon Red Cross volunteers succeeded in sensitizing a total of 362,606 people to the risks of the epidemic (259,759 people in the Far North Region and 102,847 in the North Region). After the Red Cross intervention, a very limited number of sporadic cases have been registered, the last on 7 December 2009 which was quickly brought under control in health centres with the support of Red Cross volunteers and community relays that are now equipped with adequate intervention materials.
ECHO contributed EUR 107,444 to the DREF in replenishment of the allocation made for this operation.
The major donors to the DREF are the Irish, Italian, Netherlands and Norwegian governments and ECHO.
Details of all donors can be found at page
http://www.ifrc.org/what/disasters/responding/drs/tools/dref/donors.asp