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Zimbabwe aid diary: Fighting cholera | Zimbabwe aid diary: Fighting cholera |
(about 2 hours later) | |
More than 3,300 people have died from the worst outbreak of cholera in Zimbabwe's history, which has infected nearly 66,000 people. | More than 3,300 people have died from the worst outbreak of cholera in Zimbabwe's history, which has infected nearly 66,000 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. | 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 keeping a diary for the BBC News website as he travels around Zimbabwe this week to see the situation for himself. | Matthew Cochrane, from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, is keeping a diary for the BBC News website as he travels around Zimbabwe this week to see the situation for himself. |
THURSDAY 5 FEBRUARY, KAROI | THURSDAY 5 FEBRUARY, KAROI |
Our swing through Zimbabwe's south finished on Wednesday as we left Bulawayo and headed north to Kadoma in Mashonaland West. | Our swing through Zimbabwe's south finished on Wednesday as we left Bulawayo and headed north to Kadoma in Mashonaland West. |
In the past week or so, the community has buried 10 people On the road we had a call from Maxwell at the Zimbabwe Red Cross Midlands office. | |
Another outbreak had been reported, this time in Zvishavane. | Another outbreak had been reported, this time in Zvishavane. |
A team of his volunteers were on their way to blanket the town with public health information. | A team of his volunteers were on their way to blanket the town with public health information. |
We arrived in Kadoma at about midday. | We arrived in Kadoma at about midday. |
Kadoma is home to Zimbabwe's largest cholera treatment centre - a small town of tents laid out on a football pitch. | Kadoma is home to Zimbabwe's largest cholera treatment centre - a small town of tents laid out on a football pitch. |
The centre has treated about 3,400 cases and seems to be running well. | The centre has treated about 3,400 cases and seems to be running well. |
The sister in charge told me that the area's case fatality rate (deaths by number of cases) is only about 1.4% - well below the countrywide stratospheric rate that is hovering between 5% and 5.5%. | The sister in charge told me that the area's case fatality rate (deaths by number of cases) is only about 1.4% - well below the countrywide stratospheric rate that is hovering between 5% and 5.5%. |
On the way in I was stopped by an old man. He told me that he was from Martin's Spur, a town about 10km (six miles) outside of Kadoma. | On the way in I was stopped by an old man. He told me that he was from Martin's Spur, a town about 10km (six miles) outside of Kadoma. |
In the past week or so, the community has buried 10 people. | In the past week or so, the community has buried 10 people. |
Ox carts | Ox carts |
He asked me about transport. | He asked me about transport. |
We don't have any ambulances Nurse in Kadoma | We don't have any ambulances Nurse in Kadoma |
His community has been transporting new cases to the treatment centre on oxcarts. | His community has been transporting new cases to the treatment centre on oxcarts. |
As he was finishing his story, one of the carts arrived with a young and very sick woman. | As he was finishing his story, one of the carts arrived with a young and very sick woman. |
I spoke to the sister about the man. | I spoke to the sister about the man. |
"We don't have any ambulances," she grimaced. | "We don't have any ambulances," she grimaced. |
The local municipality has put some of its vehicles on standby but the situation is more complex than that. | The local municipality has put some of its vehicles on standby but the situation is more complex than that. |
Firstly, the communications infrastructure across the country is so strained that messages and requests typically don't get through. | Firstly, the communications infrastructure across the country is so strained that messages and requests typically don't get through. |
Secondly, even if a message does arrive, there is no guarantee that there will be fuel for the vehicles or that the drivers will be able to make their way to the centre. | Secondly, even if a message does arrive, there is no guarantee that there will be fuel for the vehicles or that the drivers will be able to make their way to the centre. |
An economic crisis alongside a health crisis. | An economic crisis alongside a health crisis. |
We were taken on a tour of the site. One tent was set up for acute cases. | We were taken on a tour of the site. One tent was set up for acute cases. |
Lack of food sits at the heart of the cholera crisis | Lack of food sits at the heart of the cholera crisis |
In that tent a woman lay in her bed hooked up to a respirator. | In that tent a woman lay in her bed hooked up to a respirator. |
"Renal failure," whispered the sister in my ear. | "Renal failure," whispered the sister in my ear. |
"She should be in Harare," she continued. "But again; no transport." | "She should be in Harare," she continued. "But again; no transport." |
We left Kadoma and drove another couple of hours to Karoi. | We left Kadoma and drove another couple of hours to Karoi. |
Another treatment centre, this one supported by the Japanese and German Red Cross Societies. | Another treatment centre, this one supported by the Japanese and German Red Cross Societies. |
Sister Songola introduced me to a young girl who had been admitted this morning, only one hour after her mother was discharged. | Sister Songola introduced me to a young girl who had been admitted this morning, only one hour after her mother was discharged. |
Rations | Rations |
We left the centre and literally stumbled across a Zimbabwe Red Cross food distribution. | We left the centre and literally stumbled across a Zimbabwe Red Cross food distribution. |
We just can't help everyone Nora SamupungaRed Cross security officer | |
The Red Cross is giving food to more that 260,000 people across the country. | The Red Cross is giving food to more that 260,000 people across the country. |
Food really sits at the heart of the cholera crisis. | Food really sits at the heart of the cholera crisis. |
The UN is now estimating that seven million Zimbabweans are in need of food aid. | The UN is now estimating that seven million Zimbabweans are in need of food aid. |
Hunger compromises the immune system, leaving people unable to fight something like cholera. | Hunger compromises the immune system, leaving people unable to fight something like cholera. |
About 2,600 people were given a monthly allocation of maize, beans and cooking oil on Wednesday. | About 2,600 people were given a monthly allocation of maize, beans and cooking oil on Wednesday. |
As the distribution wound up dozens of others rushed into the compound and picked through the grass for spilt maize meal. | As the distribution wound up dozens of others rushed into the compound and picked through the grass for spilt maize meal. |
"A lot of people who aren't our clients come looking for food," said Nora Samupunga, the local Red Cross food security officer. | "A lot of people who aren't our clients come looking for food," said Nora Samupunga, the local Red Cross food security officer. |
"We just can't help everyone." | "We just can't help everyone." |
Again, resources. But I've already laboured that point. | Again, resources. But I've already laboured that point. |
Read Wednesday's cholera diary | Read Wednesday's cholera diary |
Read Tuesday's cholera diary | Read Tuesday's cholera diary |
Read Monday's cholera diary | Read Monday's cholera diary |
International Federation of the Red Cross | International Federation of the Red Cross |
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