The World HealthOrganization (WHO) is stepping up efforts to deal with the cholera outbreak inZimbabwe, following reports of well over 500 deaths and more than 12,000 cases.However, the WHO says this estimate may be too low. Dr. Claire-Lise Chaignat,head of the World Health Organization's Global Task Force on Cholera, explainsthe WHO's response to the outbreak.
"We'vehad a country team on site in Zimbabwe (for) several years. Of course we haveour WHO office, which is based in Harare, with a sub-regional team that isthere. And in fact, they're supporting the Ministry of Health in responding tothis epidemic," she says.
Accurateinformation on the disease is essential, but she says that current data may notindicate the full scope of the problem. "You know the current difficulties incommunication and with moving within the country. And of course we have quiteaccurate information from the three hotspots, which are Harare city and suburbsand Mudzi on the Mozambican border and Bay Bridge on the South African border,but what is happening within the country in the provinces far away from thehotspots, we don't know very much what is happening there. And that's we thinkthis is an under reporting of what is currently happening in Zimbabwe," shesays.
Dr.Chaignat describes the situation as "very challenging" because of thelack of accurate data and the fact that Zimbabwe's healthcare system is in badshape. "That means we need to coordinate with all the different partners. Weneed to support the staff of the Ministry of Health," she says. Such support,she says, could encourage ministry and healthcare workers currently not attheir posts to return. She says that WHO must also work with other UN agenciesand NGOs on the ground.