Lake Chad region. Preparing and preventing against a cholera outbreak - ENG Webclip

In 2018, several cholera outbreaks were declared in West and Central Africa. Cameroon, Niger and Nigeria were particularly affected, with more than 45,000 cases and more than 900 deaths registered. Cholera is indeed endemic to this region, especially to the Lake Chad Basin, where poverty and displacement of people due to insecurity worsen the situation.

Right now, we are again entering the cholera season in the region. In Cameroon, where cholera cases have been rising since May 2019 and there is an outbreak declared, MSF teams are once more mobilising to support the response of the MoH.

Yet cholera is a preventable disease and we now have tools to limit the spread of an outbreak. Epidemiology is one of them, involving early monitoring of the outbreak to quickly identify the first cases, as well as investigation to determine the most vulnerable people and enable an effective response in low resource settings.

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Cholera : Lake Chad - Cameroon

Lake Chad region. Preparing and preventing against a cholera outbreak - DE Webclip

Subt. German

Preparing for the response to a Cholera epidemic in northern Cameroon - FR Webclip

Subt. French

Preparing for the response to a Cholera epidemic in northern Cameroon - INTER Webclip

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Unique Identifier Code / URN MSF282392

Date taken / Date Recorded 10/08/2019 12:00 AM

Country Cameroon

Commissioning section MSF-SWITZERLAND

Photographer / videographer / producer Juliette Muller

Usage Rights (MSF) External Media, MSF Fundraising, MSF Publications, Social Media

Formal Consent Copy available no

Editor's rating ★★★ (F)

Video format h264 (Main) (avc1 / 0x31637661)

Duration 2m52s

Maximum Size 1080px × 1080px 410.66 MB

Additional Information / Shotlist Vidéo Script – Cholera Cameroun ENG

(Text on screen)

Niger – Chad – Nigeria – Cameroon

Lake Chad

In 2018, multiple cholera outbreaks were declared in the countries around Lake Chad.

More than 45,000 people were affected and more than 900 died in Niger, Nigeria and Cameroon.

Cases are increasing again this year, especially in northern Cameroon.

MSF teams are mobilising to prevent the outbreak from spreading once more.

(Title)

3 questions about cholera

1) Why is the Lake Chad region particularly affected by cholera?

Dr Jean-Patrick Ouamba

Medical coordinator for MSF in Cameroon

(ITW)

We know that the nature of the soil there means the area is vulnerable to flooding.

There are also water sources (that people access),especially the lake.

Cholera is transmitted through water

and poor hygiene practices, such as when using the toilet,

or by drinking contaminated water.

Access to clean drinking water

still needs to be improved.

In addition, the conflicts in the region

are leading to the displacement of populations,

meaning it is difficult for people to practice good hygiene,

or access water and healthcare.

(Text on screen) Archives 2016/ Tchad Archive footage 2016/ Chad
2016/ Minawao camp, Cameroon

2) What can be done to prevent this disease?

(ITW)

The best prevention for cholera is to have access to clean drinking water,

access to food that has been properly washed and cooked,

to practice good personal hygiene, like washing hands after using the toilet

and before eating a meal..

When it comes to cholera, the priority is prevention, through different measures, which are communicated to people

by our health promoters and medical teams, as well as vaccination.

(Text on screen)
3) Comment s'y prend-on pour éviter la propagation de l'épidémie ?

(ITW)

When a patient presents to a health facility with symptoms,

we will ask the person:

Where do they live?

Have they been travelling?

Do they live alone or in a community?

Do they know of other people who are presenting with the same symptoms?

The challenge is to identify whether there is only one case, or many,

and to take measures in the community,

in the surrounding health facilities, to prevent the cases from spreading.

(Text on screen)

In 2019, MSF teams in Cameroon have supported local health authorities to rehabilitate and equip 3 health facilities for patients infected with cholera
and trained health facility staff in case management.
Teams continue to inform people about protecting themselves against the disease.

Keywords

Cholera

Cholera Treatment Centre