Zimbabwe aid diary: Fighting cholera

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More than 3,000 people have died from the worst outbreak of cholera in Zimbabwe's history, which has infected more than 60,000 people.

The epidemic has been fuelled by the country's economic meltdown, which has led to the collapse of the country's water, health and sanitation systems.

Matthew Cochrane, from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is travelling around Zimbabwe this week to see the situation for himself and is keeping a diary for the BBC News website.

TUESDAY, 3 FEBRUARY, KWEKWE

We went back to the clinic in Kwekwe, where the tent that we set up is now occupied by eight of the more severe cases.

But in contrast to Monday's sense of pandemonium, it felt calm.

The break down in the supply of water has fuelled the epidemic

I spoke to Nyengera Caston, the head nurse.

"I'm very pleased with your [the Red Cross Red Crescent's] contributions," he told me.

"Without your help it would have got totally out of control."

Now that he had a moment, I asked him how this latest outbreak had unfolded.

Last week, he explained, a woman had arrived. She was dehydrated and exhausted and she collapsed at the door of the clinic.

That was the first case. The next day, the patients flowed in - all of them from the nearby mining town of Tiger Reef.

"We could only do so little," Nyengera said.

"We didn't have beds, medication or staff."

Flare-ups

Nyengara was leading a team of three nurses who were trying to help more than 130 cases.

But now, he and his team feel that the situation is under control.

"I feel it's like chasing a ghost Jens GloersenNorwegian Red Cross The Red Cross Red Crescent tent, medication, latrines and technical expertise has helped them get on top of it.

That seems to be the nature of this outbreak now.

One area will flare up, and the Red Cross Red Crescent will respond, bringing in resources and experience.

But no sooner are the local health staff able to breathe a sigh of relief, reports of another outbreak arrive.

And the Red Cross Red Crescent team packs up, and heads off to meet this next challenge.

"I feel it's like chasing a ghost," says Jens Gloersen, the head of the Norwegian Red Cross's basic health care team.

As we are leaving the clinic, two bodies are carried out to a truck.

There's still a long, long way to go.

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<a class="bodl" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7864575.stm">Read Monday's cholera diary</a>