African charity seeks funds to contain cholera outbreak in Kenya

African health provider, Amref Health Africa on Wednesday launched an emergency appeal for 250,000 US dollars to respond to cholera outbreak in Mandera County in northeast Kenya.

Amref Health Africa also confirmed that the cholera outbreak in Mandera County has already claimed 10 lives and at least 721 people are suspected to have been infected since the first case was reported on April 13.

"To contain the situation and help put a stop to the spread of the epidemic, we have launched an emergency appeal for 250,000 dollars," the organiSation's group CEO Dr Githinji Gitahi said in a statement.

It is feared that if the infections cross over to neighbouring Bulahawa, in Somalia, the situation could turn catastrophic as the health system in that country is barely functional.

Gitahi said the biggest challenge now is inadequate control and management of the outbreak. Health workers are not properly skilled in proper cholera case management, which could escalate the situation.

"We have established that the outbreak is mainly within Mandera town, with the original case suspected to be a man who had travelled by bus from Wajir or Nairobi," he said, noting that the organization is currently collaborating with the Mandera County government and other partners to help manage the situation.

Mandera County Health Executive Ahmed Sheikh said lack of clean water for consumption has increased the spread of the killer disease.

"This disease was first reported four weeks ago from someone who travelled to Mandera from Nairobi and now almost every village in Mandera East is affected," he said.

"We have 63 patients in the isolation ward which is more than the capacity but together with MSF we are putting up a temporary cholera treatment centre," said Sheikh.

He said the temporary 60-bed ward now under construction at the main entrance to the referral hospital shall be well equipped.

Health officials said the situation on the ground is dire as cholera patients are currently being housed in a maternity shelter which has a capacity of 50 but is already crowded.

The 250,000 dollars will meet the cost of health promotion, purchase of supplies for prevention and treatment such as water purification tablets and medicines, as well as laboratory supplies and personnel.

"We appeal to our partners and supporters to help us in this effort to end the suffering of the Mandera people from the ravages of cholera," Gitahi said, noting that many more patients are being treated outside, with beds placed around the compound of the hospital and drips hanging from trees.

The ministry of health has mobilised supply of water to schools, markets and other public places, but there are no water storage tanks in many of these places.

Source: Xinhua