TABLE OF CONTENTS

ZIMBABWE – CHOLERA OUTBREAKSProgress: The German/Austrian ERU conducted rapid assessments in Gweru of Midlands Provinceand in Harare. With the findings, the German/Austrian ERU has deployed M40 equipment to supportthe Zimbabwe National Water Authorities (ZINWA) at the city water reticulation centre 20 km outsideof town. The water treatment facility has not been working due to broken pumps, lack of chemicals forflocculation and dysfunctional sand filtration. The ERU team will provide tanks for chlorination andenhancing storage capacity. The British Red Cross mass sanitation ERU is also operating in Gwerusupporting the Norwegian Red Cross BHC.The Japanese Red Cross BHC and Spanish Red Cross and Mass Sanitation ERU conducted a jointrapid assessment in Karoi and Chirundu in Mashonaland West Province. Basic health and sanitationequipment have been stationed in Karoi to support the CTCs and hospitals. The French Red CrossWatSan ERU has handed over two bladders and tap stands to complement Spanish Red Cross MassSanitation ERU in response to the water needs at Karoi Hospital. However, the bladder tanks will beused at the CTCs since UNICEF has already delivered bladder/tanks at the hospital.Another assessment was conducted in Kadoma (Chidamoyo district) during which were identified arethe needs for sanitation activities, upgrade of the water supply system at CTCs and hygienepromotion; activities will be carried out by Spanish Red Cross ERU team. The French Red CrossWatSan ERU will complement the efforts by providing some bladder tanks and tap stands. In addition,British and Finnish ERU conducted assessments in Mutare, Manicaland Province and plans toestablish a service centre are underway. French Red Cross ERU made four assessment trips toMutare, Gweru district, Musengezi (Chegutu), Karoi and Chirundu (with Japanese RC). The team hasyet to identify an appropriate location for its water treatment units.Sanitation and hygiene promotionObjective: Improved hygiene awareness and sanitation for 1,500,000 people (300,000households) in 8 cholera affected provinces, and increased access to latrines in healthcentres and schools.Activities planned:• Provision of hygiene promotion activities toExpected result:1,500,000 people through training and activating• Appropriate sanitation, including volunteers at the community level.excreta disposal, solid waste • Distribution of hygiene kits to 20,000 vulnerabledisposal and drainage, is households in cholera affected areas. Hygiene kitsprovided to affected householdsover the next seven months.are designed for this operation and include soapand other items.• Disease transmission is reduced • Provision of Sanitation facilities, excreta and solidthrough raised awareness of waste disposal for CTCs and communities. Thesecommunities and improved activities will be supported by the two Masshygiene behaviour.Sanitation ERU’s which can reach 20,000 people• The scope and quality of the each.Zimbabwe Red Cross Society • Training of staff and volunteers on cholerawater, sanitation and hygiene response, reporting, and household waterpromotion services are improved. purification• Production and distribution of IEC materials in locallanguages.Progress: British Red Cross Mass sanitation ERU and Norwegian Red Cross BHC ERU have beendeployed in Midlands province and their equipment and teams are focused on hygiene promotion andsanitation. In Manicaland Province, Finnish Red Cross BHC is supported by a German Red CrossERU team (Canadian and Austrian team members) who have conducted a joint assessment focusingon sanitation and hygiene promotion needs in medical institutions, CTC and in rural areas.Spanish Red Cross Sanitation ERU is covering Mashonaland West province, providing support to theJapanese BHC ERU. The operation base is in Karoi, which is close to various CTCs with strong RedCross branch and active volunteers, of which the majority are trained in community mobilization.Further assessments will be carried out in other parts of the province to establish the needs andpossible support to the CTCs. The planned hygiene promotion campaign at community level is at anadvanced stage while training of volunteers in underway. Spanish Red Cross ERU also has plans todistribute hygiene kits tailormade for this operation to cover 20,000 families throughout the country.28