In Zimbabwe, the government is launching a cholera vaccination campaign tomorrow, Monday January 29, as the infection spreads worryingly in the country. More than 20,000 people have fallen ill in recent months, and 500 deaths have been recorded
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The first cases of cholera were recorded in the country less than a year ago, about a hundred kilometers from the capital and, like every year, the number of cases increases during this rainy season.
This year, explains John Roche, head of the International Federation of the Red Cross for the southern region, the epidemic is larger than usual, with a thousand additional contaminations every week, particularly in urban centers.
“HArare is particularly affected because there is a significant population density. The water distribution system in the capital is in poor condition, having been poorly maintained for years. In some neighborhoods, it is even absent. The population therefore resorts to wells whose water is often contaminated by excrement.
“ Our fear today is that at the start of the year, people are traveling more, they are returning from family celebrations in their villages, some have traveled to border countries and school has also started again. All this risks accelerating the spread of the epidemic.
“ This vaccination campaign is a very good thing, one dose provides protection for six months. Unfortunately, there are not enough vaccines and it is difficult to obtain them. In Africa, we have cholera epidemics all the time. Maybe we should start thinking differently, maybe we should think about making vaccines locally », he calls.
Read alsoSouthern Africa: intensification of the cholera epidemic