Up to 70,000 people at risk due to cholera outbreak in Somaliland
Save the Children is working to contain a cholera outbreak in Somaliland. Over 600 cases of cholera, including eight cholera-related deaths, have been reported in the Togdheer region in the north of the country over the past two weeks.
Wednesday 6 June 2007
Cholera is spread by contaminated food and water. Children are particularly vulnerable to dehydration. Severe cases of cholera are difficult to treat in children.
"Cholera is spreading fast leaving up to 70,000 people are at risk. Cholera spreads very quickly and can cause rapid, severe dehydration which is very difficult to control. Early treatment, surveillance and prevention are crucial", said Elizabeth Berryman, Save the Children's Emergency Health Adviser.
During an epidemic, 80-90 per cent of patients can be treated by giving them oral rehydration salts. Patients who become severely dehydrated must be given fluids intravenously if they are to survive.
What we are doing
We are working with the Ministry of Health and other agencies to:
- provide primary health care centres with fluids and oral rehydration salts
- set up additional rehydration centers in key affected areas where patients can be treated with oral rehydration salts
- support the establishment of one key isolation centre for the management of severe cases
- provide chlorine to clean contaminated water sources, such as shallow wells
- train doctors and nurses to make sure that they can recognize, report and treat cholera
- work with communities to raise awareness of important public health measures, such as hand-washing, the boiling of drinking water, and basic food hygiene.
Somaliland has been devastated in recent years by drought, floods and local conflict. It has poor health infrastructure and sanitation and is often neglected by international agencies and donors
