More funds needed to fight cholera in Mbuji-Mayi

The International Federation of the Red Cross said on Wednesday it required more money to combat cholera in Mbuji-Mayi, Kasi Oriental Province, central Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). An appeal in December 2002 by the federation for 160,000 Swiss francs (US $112,000) "has not been fully covered and more funds are needed to ensure that the epidemic is contained if not eradicated," Andre Zamouangana Banimba, the Federation's medical coordinator in Mbuji-Mayi, said. He said the Federation had built public latrines in market places, and that the population was now aware of the problem. "Some people have even started digging private latrines in their backyard and we would like to persuade more to do the same by providing concrete slabs," he said. "But here again we need funds. We are on the right track, but we should keep our guard up." Mbuji-Mayi, a city of about two million people, is mainly known for its diamond mines. Cholera broke out in the area in October 2002, and has killed 240 people, the Federation reported. "Strangely, the cholera epidemic here is not a waterborne disease but has been transmitted man-to-man," Zamouangana said. "However, it is clear that poor access to clean drinking water and bad hygiene habits have facilitated the spread of cholera." The Federation reported that the first casualty occurred in October 2002 when a diamond "digger" died in a mine. The family took the body back to Mbuji-Mayi, where the father, convinced that his son's death was related to witchcraft, ordered every member of the family to drink water from a bucket in which he had placed his son's soiled garments, saying "the murderers of my son will die". "I had to drink this water," Marie-Josée Maputu, 38, a sister-in-law to the dead man, told the Federation. "But I took very little, maybe it saved me." Seven of the 30 people who drank from the bucket died, including the father. The epidemic started from this "fateful" act, since which 4,329 cases had been recorded, the Federation reported. The Federation said it now had about 150 volunteers, including Maputu, encouraging people to adopt safe hygiene habits. "Wash hands, boil water, cook food, these are basic messages I repeat everyday to people I meet," she said. "I am glad our efforts are paying off. The epidemic is not over yet but people are not dying in great numbers as they did before."