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Cholera Outbreak in South Africa: How a Field Hospital is Saving Lives

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Dil Bar Irshad
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A visual of a field hospital in South Africa <br> Image Credit: CNN

Cholera Outbreak in South Africa: How a Field Hospital is Saving Lives

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The deadly disease has claimed 23 lives and infected hundreds of people in Gauteng province. Cholera is a serious bacterial infection that causes severe dehydration, vomiting, and diarrhea. It can be fatal if left untreated. The disease is spread by contaminated water or food and often affects people living in poor sanitation conditions.

In South Africa, a cholera outbreak has been declared in the Hammanskraal township, near the capital city of Pretoria, in Gauteng province. According to the health department, 41 cases have been confirmed nationwide, with 34 in Gauteng, one in Limpopo, and six in Free State. The outbreak has also claimed 23 lives so far. The source of the outbreak is still under investigation, but some residents have blamed the government for failing to provide clean water and proper waste management. The City of Tshwane Municipality, which includes Pretoria and surrounding areas, has faced political instability and corruption scandals in recent years.

A field hospital in Kanana provides urgent care and treatment to cholera patients.

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To cope with the rising number of infections and prevent further spread of the disease, Gauteng Health has established a field hospital in Kanana, a nearby informal settlement. The field hospital consists of temporary tents where patients are screened and treated for dehydration and other symptoms.

Patients are given oral or intravenous fluids as soon as they arrive, and those who are critically ill are transported to hospitals in Tshwane for further care and admission. The field hospital also provides health education and hygiene kits to the community members.

The field hospital is supported by the national government, the World Health Organization (WHO), and several non-governmental organizations (NGOs), such as Gift of the Givers, which has distributed more than 3,200 sealed water bottles to the local hospital and clinics.

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The field hospital aims to save lives and contain the outbreak.

The field hospital is part of a comprehensive response plan to address the cholera outbreak in Gauteng. The plan also includes improving water quality and sanitation, enhancing surveillance and laboratory testing, conducting contact tracing and vaccination campaigns, and raising public awareness and prevention measures.

The health authorities have urged residents of Hammanskraal and surrounding areas to avoid drinking tap water and to boil or chlorinate any water used for drinking or cooking. They have also advised people to wash their hands frequently with soap and water, to cook food thoroughly, and to seek medical attention if they experience any signs of cholera.

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The field hospital is expected to operate until the outbreak is under control. The health officials have expressed optimism that the situation will improve soon, as they continue to work with various partners and stakeholders to ensure that everyone has access to safe water and quality health care.

Cholera is a global threat that requires collective action.

Cholera is not only a problem in South Africa, but also a global threat that affects millions of people every year. According to WHO, there were more than 1.3 million cholera cases and 30,000 deaths reported in 2022 worldwide. The disease mainly affects low- and middle-income countries that lack adequate water supply and sanitation systems.

However, cholera can be prevented and treated with simple and cost-effective interventions. WHO has launched a global strategy to eliminate cholera by 2030, which aims to reduce deaths by 90% and eliminate transmission in 20 countries. The strategy focuses on strengthening surveillance, improving water and sanitation services, providing oral cholera vaccines, enhancing case management and infection control, and engaging communities and partners.

Cholera is a disease that can be defeated if we work together. By supporting initiatives like the field hospital in South Africa, we can save lives and protect health for all.

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