The World Health Organization (WHO) has established 17 standard cholera treatment centres in Ethiopia to support the country’s efforts in combating a cholera outbreak. According to the UN health agency, the treatment centres will play a crucial role in improving the availability, accessibility, and quality of patient care for cholera treatment.
The 718-bed capacity cholera treatment centres are equipped with the necessary medical equipment and are self-contained medical facilities with designated rooms for screening and triage, observation, admission, recovery, waste disposal, laundry, chlorine preparation, kitchen, and morgue, among others. The WHO has also distributed and posted printed standard case management and follow-up protocols at the treatment centres.
As of January 30, the death toll from the ongoing cholera outbreak in Ethiopia had reached 468, with 32,548 cholera cases reported across the East African country. UN agencies and humanitarian partners have been calling for durable solutions to address the root causes of recurrent cholera outbreaks in the country, which include poor-quality drinking water and open defecation.
Several reports have raised concerns that fecal contamination of drinking water is the main cause of the cholera outbreak in the country, with most cholera patients using unsafe drinking water.
“This initiative, which is critical for saving lives, ensures that those affected receive rapid and effective care and treatment,” the WHO stated.
The newly established treatment centres are equipped to provide rapid and effective care and treatment to those affected by the cholera outbreak. The agency’s efforts come as part of a larger response to combat the spread of cholera in Ethiopia and address the root causes of recurrent outbreaks.
