By Ilyaas Mohamed
Following reportedly cholera outbreak in Xarardheere town, much attention hasn’t been paid to it and hence no emergency response carried out except alarming of the situation.
While GSA have been closely monitoring the situation in Xarardheere and been alarming the cholera outbreak, some days after the diseases spread to Xindawaco village about 30km south Hobyo and then to Hobyo town and surrounding areas. Once again GSA officers in the field alarmed the Hobyo case and warned of massive death of community members in the area unless comprehensive response ranging from health to WASH takes place urgently.
The reported Cholera on 13th June 2011 which is tested and confirmed by WHO really shocked GSA because of our previous held commitment to conduct pipeline system from Gawaan borehole which has not yet started. The major contributing factor of rapid spread of the disease in hobyo town is that contacts of human wastes in pits of toilets and water table as well as bad hygiene and sanitation norms and health awareness .
Emergency response
In collaboration with UNICEF SCZ particularly WASH Department, GSA provided one drum of chlorine of calcium hypochlorite hydrated to Hobyo community. Meanwhile, GSA team carried out wells chlorination for 10 volunteers nominated by the community as well as one health worker from the MCH. The volunteers have been exposed to theoretical and practical aspect of hand dug wells chlorination. Under supervision of GSA WASH team, the chlorinators have been split in to two groups to fully cover South and North divisions of the village.
First priority has been given to chlorination of wells that is mostly utilized for drinking and located in the corners of the village. Massive chlorination of all wells in the town is little bit a challenging task. Worth to note that the town has more than 300 hundred hand dug wells that make treatment and measurement and calculations process very challenging.
Being our goal to reduce mortality and morbidity among community in Hobyo, the emergency response launched by UNICEF/GSA has done a lot to reduce the cases of cholera after massive treatment of wells in the town. However, yet there should be complementary activities to be carried out in conjunction with chlorination that is hygiene and sanitation promotion combined with health promotion. At this stage it’s highly expected that the disease would be gone and all out health atmosphere would be felt.
Nevertheless, availability of volunteers from the community and commitment of community elders have played great deal and notable role inspiring relief teams with full courage to carry out the operation.
Gaps and needs:
During UNICEF/GSA operation in the town, the most wanting gap identified was lack of appropriate space in the MCH where sick people have no enough space to be hospitalized, a matter makes health response very difficult and preventable death risks imminent.
Shortage of medicines particularly for cholera cases treatment might lead to increased mortality rates unless addressed and urgently provided required medical supplies.
Treatment of waters in the wells is not only the absolute solution for preventing break out of cholera, but also complementary works should come along such as hygiene and sanitation promotion on HH and community levels.
Recommendations:
We recommend the following issues to be addressed urgently:
- Highly alertness of possibilities of cholera outbreak in other areas in the region.
- Carrying out massive HH and community level hygiene, sanitation and health promotion to eliminate risks of cholera contracting by community in Hobyo.
- Emergency Provision of tents for the MCH where all routine works have been blocked until cholera phases out.
- Emergency Supply of cholera and AWD medicines to cover current and likely imminent needs.
- Considering establishment of a hospital for Hobyo and villages under it.
- Provision of qualified medical personnel
- Provision of chlorine supplies for emergency preparedness against possible cholera/AWD outbreak in the area.
