Harare- In response to a severe outbreak of cholera that is believed to have infected over 6,400 people in Zimbabwe according to the World Health Organisation, the European Union is providing €90,000 in humanitarian funding to help control the deadly epidemic.
The outbreak was declared on September 6 in the capital Harare and was followed by the proclamation of a state of emergency on September 11. Five out of the country’s ten provinces have reported sporadic cases. Trends indicate that the number of cases is growing at an exponential rate, according to the Red Cross.
The EU funding will support the Zimbabwe Red Cross to carry out lifesaving actions through the early detection of cases, followed by an immediate response at the community level and appropriate care for all patients.
“Eight oral rehydration points will be set up in these four affected areas for the treatment of cholera which causes profound loss of fluid in patients. 120 Red Cross volunteers, 20 supervisors and 60 community leaders will be trained on health and hygiene education.
“Door-to-door campaigns and mass media awareness will be conducted. Community volunteers will monitor the situation and refer cases. Soap, water purification tabs, buckets and jerry cans will be distributed, and 100 hand washing stations which will be set up at health centres, oral rehydration points and other public places,” the EU said in a statement.
The funding is part of the EU’s overall contribution to the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
This support comes after an initial allocation, on 10 September, of €8,500 from an ongoing EU-funded project implemented by the Finnish Red in support of the Zimbabwe Red Cross. These emergency funds helped the Red Cross to kick-start the mobilisation of volunteers for hygiene and health promotion.
