Agencies sound cholera alert

Aid agencies working in Uganda have sounded an alert over a cholera outbreak, with WHO reporting 208 cases and 10 deaths from four areas. The areas are Kampala (73 cases), Kasese (88), Bundibugyo (19) and Arua (28). Rainfall early in the year and poor sanitation particularly in the slums around Kampala are possible causes for the situation, Uganda’s WHO Country Representative, Hatib Njie told IRIN today. “Kasese, Bundibugyo and areas bordering DRC have been hit because of civil strife, aggravated by the inability of medical facilities to perform normal operations,” he added. Meanwhile, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), is supporting the Uganda Red Cross which seeks local funding of 50 million Ugandan shillings to back its efforts in the run-up to the rains later this year. As part of the National Cholera Task Force, and working closely with the Ministry of Health, the Red Cross has already deployed 50 volunteers to provide community health education, chlorinate water sources, locate cholera cases and transport them to hospital. It plans to mobilise and train more volunteers and community leaders, and improve environmental sanitation.