Angola - measures to combat cholera | Ethiopia - Acute Water Diarrhea and Measles Update | The role of risk perception in reducing cholera vulnerability | Flooding in West African nation of Benin kills 43, covers two-thirds of the country
Campbell, Dan
Angola/Luanda: Ingombota implements measures to combat cholera
Source: Government of Angola, Date: 16 Oct 2010
Luanda – Health authorities in Ingombota District in Luanda have intensified, since August, actions on preventive measures to combat cholera, mainly in suburban areas.
The head of the municipal section of health, Pedro Gaspar, said the action is to carry out successive campaigns, in order to get the population to treat the rubbish, drinking water, food and personal hygiene in the neighbourhoods of Chicala I and II, respectively in the communes of Ilha do Cabo, Boavista and Patrice Lumumba.
The campaigns are made not only by officials of the municipality but also by the churches, markets and schools.
The municipality of Ingombota has not recorded any case of cholera for the past three years.
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/RMOI-8ABVSJ?OpenDocument&query=cholera
Ethiopia – Acute Water Diarrhea and Measles Update
Health Update, Oct 18, 2010
New cases of Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD) continued to be reported in Oromia and SNNPR between 4 and 10 October 2010. The Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute (EHNRI) reported a total of 78 cases of AWD from Oromia (Shakiso woreda, Guji zone and Kurfa Chefe woreda, East Hararghe zone) and SNNP (Dilla town, Dilla Zuria and Yirgachefe woreda in Gedeo zone and Dera woreda and Bona Zuria woreda in Sidama zone). WHO has supported the training of 16 health workers on AWD prevention, case management and control in Dara woreda (SNNPR). UNICEF dispatched four case treatment centre (CTC) kits to Derra and two kits to Bonna woreda to support the isolation and treatment of AWD patients. Based on the Regional Health Bureau (RHB) request, six additional kits have been sent for pre-positioning. UNICEF has deployed an audio-visual van to disseminate AWD prevention and mitigation messages and provides financial support to Oromia, Amhara and SNNP regions.
During the same week, a total of 802 new cases of measles with one death were reported from Aroresa and Bensa woredas (Sidama zone) and Male, Benatsemay, South Ari, North Ari and Nynangatom woredas (South Omo zone) in SNNPR. In the past week, UNICEF sent emergency drug kits to North Ari (South Omo) and Uba Debretsehay (Gamo Gofa). Each kit will support the medical needs of 2,500 people for three months. WHO supported the training of trainers on measles supplementary immunization activities as part of the pre-vaccination campaign in Gedeo zone and Dara woreda of Sidama zone. WHO plans to extend the support to Amaro special woreda (SNNPR) and neighbouring Guji zone (Oromia).
Malaria
cases are also on increase in North Gondar and Awi zones in Amhara Region. Hot
spot woredas include
Tsegede,
Mirab Armacheho, Gondar Zuria and Alefa in North Gondar zone and Dangila, Jawi,
Ankesha and
Guangua
in Awi zone. Critical shortages of operational cost have limited spraying
efforts in affected areas.
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/VVOS-8ACJP3/$File/full_report.pdf
The role of risk perception in reducing cholera vulnerability
Risk Management (2010) 12, 163–184. doi:10.1057/rm.2010.1
The role of risk perception in reducing cholera vulnerability
Lorraine Williamsa, Andrew E Collinsa, Alberto Bauazeb and Ross Edgewortha
aDisaster
and Development Centre (DDC), D216 Ellison Building, School of Applied Sciences,
Northumbria University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE1 8ST, UK
bProvincial
Directorate of Health for Sofala, Beira, Mozambique
Correspondence:
Andrew E. Collins, E-mail: andrew....@northumbria.ac.uk
This article highlights multiple aspects of risk perception in relation to cholera control and infectious disease risk reduction in Beira, Mozambique. Findings suggest that risk perceptions vary over time and are interpreted on the basis of visible contamination, cognition and context. Risk perceptions influence the efficacy of risk reduction strategies.
Although risk is viewed as a communal problem, notions of individual, community and institutional responsibilities structure the perceptions and attitudes to local hygiene and infectious disease reduction strategies. Perceived risk variously acts as a motivator in the adoption of risk management approaches. However, a lack of infectious disease interventions by other community members and local institutions devalues individual motivation to combat risk of cholera. Community involvement in addressing vulnerability to disease requires knowledge of multiple influences on risk perceptions and governance contexts that facilitate collective control and responsibility.
Flooding in West African nation of Benin kills 43, covers two-thirds of the country
Oct. 18, 2010, COTONOU, Benin — The U.N.’s humanitarian agency says flooding in the West African nation of Benin has killed 43 people in the last two weeks.
A statement released Saturday by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says flood waters now cover two-thirds of the country’s territory. Unseasonably heavy rains have caused the Oueme and Mono rivers to overflow, leaving nearly 100,000 people homeless.
More than 800 cases of cholera have been reported so far. Aid workers fear the spread of a cholera epidemic in the wake of the floods. The bacterial infection passes through contaminated water and can lead to dehydration and death.
International Aid Helping Pakistan Avoid Cholera Epidemic
Washington – U.S. officials say that even though the flooding disaster in Pakistan, which has affected 20 million people, is the largest humanitarian crisis the international community has ever confronted, the combined efforts of Pakistan, the United States and other international donors have helped the country avoid a cholera epidemic as efforts continue to provide food and shelter assistance.
(Media-Newswire.com) – Washington — U.S. officials say that even though the flooding disaster in Pakistan, which has affected 20 million people, is the largest humanitarian crisis the international community has ever confronted, the combined efforts of Pakistan, the United States and other international donors have helped the country avoid a cholera epidemic as efforts continue to provide food and shelter assistance.
“We have made a difference,” said Mark Ward, director of the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance at the U.S. Agency for International Development ( USAID ), speaking to reporters at the State Department October 12.
“Our success to date is remarkable given the size and the fact that we’ve kept a public health outbreak from occurring. So I think that we have to stay realistic about the size of this disaster. The demand on the world community surpassed anything we’ve had to do before.”
He praised the Pakistani public health system, but said it has required help from the international community to avoid a cholera epidemic.
“We’ve opened 50 additional clinics. We’re adding mobile clinics now as people go home in the Punjab because we know that some of their health clinics were damaged by the floods. So the international community has been there,” he said.
According to Daniel Feldman, the State Department’s deputy special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, the United States has committed more than $450 million to relief and recovery efforts since the flooding began in late July. He said $333 million of that total has been devoted to the relief effort and $50 million to the country’s longer-term recovery. There also has been additional in-kind assistance such as the provision of halal meals and U.S. military and civilian helicopters, which have evacuated more than 21,000 people and delivered roughly 15 million pounds ( 6.8 million kilos ) of relief supplies.
Ghana – NGO educates traders on cholera
Akim Oda (E/R), Oct. 17, GNA – The Young and Lonely Foundation, Ghana (YLF), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) based at Agona Swedru, has held a day’s seminar on cholera prevention for about 40 traders at Akim Oda in the Birim Central Municipality.
The participants comprising market women and porters were expected to convey messages on techniques for the elimination of cholera to their colleagues.
Speaking at the function, Mr Gilbert Kofi Germain Executive Director of the NGO, urged the traders to keep their market stalls and surroundings clean to guarantee good health and avert cholera outbreak.
He advised them to refrain from buying iced-water from vendors, which he said do not meet basic hygienic standards.
Dan Campbell, Web
Manager
Environmental Health at USAID
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Arlington, VA 22209
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Email: dcam...@usaid.gov
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