OVERVIEW
- Cholera Situation update
- Donations received from the Chinese and Tanzanian Governments
- USAID pledges towards cholera fight
- Cholera Command Control Centre update
- Health cluster weekly meeting
- Health and WASH agree on roles and responsibilities
- WHO response team during festive holidays
SITUATION UPDATE AND HEALTH ASSESSMENT
- As of 26 December, the cholera epidemic currently affecting the country's 10 provinces and at least 57 of the 84 rural and urban districts has caused 1557 deaths with 28 492 suspected cases. The case fatality rate (CFR) is 5.5%. The largest number of cases were reported in Harare (9718 cases and 330 deaths - CFR 3.4%), followed by Beitbridge (3665/108 - CFR 2.9%), Makonde (2222/68 - CFR 3.1%) and Chegutu Urban (1767/139 - CFR 7.9 %.)
For more information, see http://ochaonline.un.org/Default.aspx?alias=ochaonline.un.org/zimbabwe
- In Mashonaland Central Province, a rapid response team including WHO epidemiologists and an environmental health officer was dispatched on 27 December to assess the outbreak, identify gaps and needs as well as provide technical support to Mazowe District health teams. All eight districts in the province have reported simultaneous outbreaks whose characteristics have never been experienced before. This has resulted in overstretching of resources.
DONATIONS AND PLEDGES TOWARDS CHOLERA FIGHT
- The Government of China donated US$ 500 000 in cash to the Government of Zimbabwe to fight the cholera epidemic.
- A consignment of medical supplies (doxixycline, methylated spirit, Ringer lactate, oral rehydration salts, infusion sets, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, zinc oxide, sodium chloride, scalp veins, cannulas, latex gloves) worth US$ 60 000 donated by the Government of Tanzania arrived in Harare.
- USAID has pledged US$ 6.2 million for WASH-related activities.
- WHO/HAC in Geneva shipped 10 000 litres of Ringer lactate and 10 000 infusion sets.