Africa

Cholera vaccination campaign begins in Mozambique

Oral cholera vaccine to protect survivors of cyclone-hit Mozambique

Gözde Bayar  | 03.04.2019 - Update : 04.04.2019
Cholera vaccination campaign begins in Mozambique

ANKARA

An oral cholera vaccination campaign began Wednesday in Mozambique’s port city of Beira, hit hard by last month’s deadly tropical Cyclone Idai. 

"Hundreds of thousands of people are living in terrible conditions in temporary settlements without safe drinking water and sanitation, putting them at serious risk of cholera and other diseases," said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of World Health Organisation (WHO). 

He highlighted the importance of accessing rapid treatment, clean water and sanitation.

"The oral cholera vaccine is a vital emergency measure that will help save lives and stop the spread of this horrible disease," he added.

Funded by international health organization Gavi, the campaign is supported by WHO and the Mozambique Ministry of Health.

Nearly 885,000 doses of oral cholera vaccine arrived in Mozambique on Tuesday.

Cholera is endemic to Mozambique, which has had regular outbreaks over the past five years.

More than 500 cases of cholera have since been reported in the city.

Cyclone Idai made landfall in Beira on March 14 with winds of up to 110 miles (177 kilometers) per hour, killing at least 534 people in Mozambique, according to local media.

The combined death toll from the cyclone in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe now stands at over 700.

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