Ethiopia: Acute watery diarrhoea epidemic in South-East
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Action Against Hunger launches emergency programmes
In January, local authorities alerted the Action Against Hunger team based in Kebri Dehar (Ogaden region) in the South-East of the country about an increase in the number of acute watery diarrhoea cases in the town and surrounding areas.
A critical situation
Action Against Hunger's nutrition, water and sanitation teams have carried out an assessment and learned that 278 people have been affected and 15 people have died since the beginning of the epidemic in January. The town's health centre is operating above its capacity and cannot systematically admit all the sick.
The epidemic can be linked to the obsolete state of many water points and lack of access to drinking water. 30,000 people live in Kebri Dehar and out of 21 springs, only two are in working condition. In addition, there is a lack of hygiene regarding the collection and storage of water and high pressure on water and sanitation infrastructures, especially during the dry season.
Emergency programme launched
Since 15th February 2007, Action Against Hunger teams have implemented water programmes to treat the epidemic. Sanitation programmes have been put into action to curb the crisis and prevent further infections.
An emergency centre has been set up to treat the sick and separate them from those unaffected. Action Against Hunger teams are carrying out water trucking operations to provide water and four distribution points have been established. Contaminated wells and water points are being purified, disinfected and rehabilitated to ensure a supply of clean water. Health and hygiene promotion sessions are also being conducted.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
For more information, please contact:
Sylvain Trottier, 0033 (0)14335 8843 / strottier@actioncontrelafaim.org
Christine Kahmann, 0044 (0)208 293 6197 / c.kahmann@aahuk.org.
Action Against Hunger is an international humanitarian organisation, working in 43 of the world's poorest countries. Its vocation is to save lives, especially those of malnourished children, and to work with vulnerable populations to preserve and restore their livelihoods with dignity.
Action Against Hunger UK is part of the ACF International Network with headquarters in France, Spain, Canada, the US and the UK.
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