Reference :
V-P-ZW-E-00052
Date :
29/01/2009
Caption :
Mashonaland West province, Makonde district, Nyamupamira village. A health worker sprays with chlorine the hands of a relative who brought the cholera patient to the cholera treatment unit in order to control the spread of the infection.
Confidentiality level :
public
Publication restrictions :
publication without restrictions
Description :
The number of lives lost to cholera has risen steadily since the onset of the epidemic late last year and now surpasses 3,000. In addition, nearly 60,000 cases have been reported. This is the worst epidemic to hit the country in 14 years and could not have struck at a worse time, considering the hardships and challenges that Zimbabwe is already facing.
This makeshift cholera treatment unit is in Nyamupamira, a village in Makonde district in Mashonaland West province, 180 kms from Harare. It is one of nine units set up by government health authorities and supported by the ICRC. The units were established to bring medical assistance closer to rural communities since they cannot afford to travel to health facilities. The closest health clinic to Nyamupamira is 30 kms away.
Lack of transport is a major constraint in the area. Most patients arrive from nearby villages on wheelbarrow.
An estimated 80% of the deaths from cholera occur at home since infected people lack the means to travel to medical units located too far away.
The chlorine-based spray disinfects in order to control the spread of the cholera infection.
The bacteria that cause the disease are often spread through contact with infected people. Such contact includes handshakes.
Original material :
digital
Resolution :
3008x2000
Orientation :
landscape
Colour/B&W :
colour
