CERF allocates $9 million to halt the spread of cholera in DRC
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| Photo: Imane Cherif OCHA/DRC |
25 January 2012: More than 21,000 people have fallen sick and 580 died due to cholera in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in the past year. Many more people have been indirectly impacted by the disease which has adversely affected agricultural and commercial activities, school attendance, family well-being and the livelihood resistance of households that are among the poorest in the world.
Significant efforts have been made during the last six months to curtail the spread of the epidemic and to treat affected individuals and communities. While these efforts did mitigate the initial impact of the disease, they have been insufficient, and the epidemic is reaching new geographic zones and resurging in areas where previously the epidemic showed signs of decline.
In response to the cholera epidemic in DRC, the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has provided US$4.4 million to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and $4.6 million to the World Health Organization (WHO) for cholera case management, early detection, and establishment of treatment centres; as well as preventative measures to ensure appropriate water, sanitation and hygiene to reduce the spread of the disease beyond the current impacted areas.
The proposed CERF-funded project will cover a six-month time period, and be limited to immediate life-saving activities. The project will be a core component of a longer-term support strategy for cholera response country-wide.
Updated on 30 January 2012