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Zimbabwe diary: Fighting cholera | Zimbabwe diary: Fighting cholera |
(about 2 hours later) | |
There were long queues for the clean water | There were long queues for the clean water |
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, has been keeping a daily diary for the BBC News website this week, as he travels around Zimbabwe to see things for himself. This is his final entry. | |
FRIDAY 6 FEBRUARY, CHITUNGWIZA, HARARE | FRIDAY 6 FEBRUARY, CHITUNGWIZA, HARARE |
I watched 11,000 litres of clean water pumped into the jerry cans and plastic bottles of a cholera-affected community on Thursday. Not very often that you get to say that. | I watched 11,000 litres of clean water pumped into the jerry cans and plastic bottles of a cholera-affected community on Thursday. Not very often that you get to say that. |
But as has been the case all week, things weren't what they seemed. | But as has been the case all week, things weren't what they seemed. |
They don't like the chlorinated taste of the clean water Raphael Bonnaud, French Red Cross | They don't like the chlorinated taste of the clean water Raphael Bonnaud, French Red Cross |
Whilst a group of people lined up at the distribution point to collect water, still more were huddled around the nearby borehole despite the water there being contaminated. | Whilst a group of people lined up at the distribution point to collect water, still more were huddled around the nearby borehole despite the water there being contaminated. |
Raphael Bonnaud is with the French Red Cross water team. | Raphael Bonnaud is with the French Red Cross water team. |
"People still prefer the bore water, even though we have explained that it's not clean," he said. | "People still prefer the bore water, even though we have explained that it's not clean," he said. |
"They don't like the chlorinated taste of the clean water, and they've been collecting water from the bore for years, so there's a behavioural element to it as well." | "They don't like the chlorinated taste of the clean water, and they've been collecting water from the bore for years, so there's a behavioural element to it as well." |
It's another sign of how complex this operation is, and of the importance of health and hygiene awareness raising. | It's another sign of how complex this operation is, and of the importance of health and hygiene awareness raising. |
Chitungwiza is a high-density suburb on the outskirts of Harare. It is home to one of the first and worst outbreaks of this cholera epidemic. It is not hard to see why. | Chitungwiza is a high-density suburb on the outskirts of Harare. It is home to one of the first and worst outbreaks of this cholera epidemic. It is not hard to see why. |
Driving through the townships, houses seemed to be built on top of each other. Few if any have running water or sanitation. | Driving through the townships, houses seemed to be built on top of each other. Few if any have running water or sanitation. |
Leaks | Leaks |
The local water authority is stretched beyond capacity, undermined by a lack of chemicals and faulty pipes. | The local water authority is stretched beyond capacity, undermined by a lack of chemicals and faulty pipes. |
About 45% of the water that is produced is lost due to leakages. To try and arrest this situation, we have set up a treatment plant at the Prince Edward water plant, and we're producing about 50,000 litres per day of high quality water. | About 45% of the water that is produced is lost due to leakages. To try and arrest this situation, we have set up a treatment plant at the Prince Edward water plant, and we're producing about 50,000 litres per day of high quality water. |
At the Zimbabwe Red Cross headquarters in Harare we heard that we're on our way to meeting most if not all of our preliminary targets. | At the Zimbabwe Red Cross headquarters in Harare we heard that we're on our way to meeting most if not all of our preliminary targets. |
But around the country, the crisis rolls on. | But around the country, the crisis rolls on. |
Two provinces - Masvingo and Mashonaland Central - have experienced a four-fold increase in cases in the last two weeks. | Two provinces - Masvingo and Mashonaland Central - have experienced a four-fold increase in cases in the last two weeks. |
And in Midlands Province, the number of cholera deaths has almost tripled. | And in Midlands Province, the number of cholera deaths has almost tripled. |
Read Thursday's cholera diary | Read Thursday's cholera diary |
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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