Merlin is partnering with German NGO Welthungerhilfe (GAA) to provide vital health care for up to 500,000 people affected by the cholera epidemic in Zimbabwe.
Merlin has established oral rehydration points (ORPs) in the most severely affected areas to administer this simple, cheap and effective treatment. ORPs are critical to stop the development of severe dehydration which is the main cause of death from cholera.
In partnership with GAA, Merlin is establishing up to 55 ORPs where patients will be assessed. Priority cases will then be referred to cholera treatment centers. Each ORP will treat up to 50 patients a day, as well as provide health education sessions for communities to reduce the risk of further contamination. Affected areas include Harare, the capital, and the rural northern provinces of the country.
We are also conducting public health promotion to ensure that people know how to prevent cholera, and what to do if they get diarrhea (which is one of the symptoms of cholera).
Lack of clean water and sanitation is a key cause of cholera. To complement our health promotion messages, we are distributing much needed hygiene items which are in short supply, including soap, jerry cans, and water storage containers and Aquatabs to purify and store drinking water. These distributions are essential to ensure that once people know what to do to prevent infection – such as storing water in clean containers and washing their hands – they have the means to do it.
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Merlin and GAA are working in conjunction with Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Health and Child Welfare to support its outbreak prevention and response capacity, a health system strengthening approach to ensure sustainable responses to potential future outbreaks.
Funded by the European Commission Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO), our program addresses a critical gap in the current response to the epidemic.
Harare city has reported 50 per cent of all cholera cases throughout Zimbabwe, however those in rural areas may be more at risk of dying due to a lack of access to health care, with more than 50 per cent of deaths happening outside of a treatment center. The Merlin/GAA programs are moving out from Harare into these rural areas.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the cholera outbreak is "one of the world's largest ever recorded [and] is far from being brought under control." More than 60,000 have been infected and 3,100 killed to date.
Merlin is working with Welthungerhilfe (GAA) to provide emergency health care and to build up health services and systems in Zimbabwe as part of Welthungerhilfe's humanitarian mission. We have chosen to partner with Welthungerhilfe because they have years of experience in delivering expert, high-quality developmental and emergency programming in Zimbabwe.