1. OMS em África

WHO’s support to the response of the acute watery diarrhoea outbreak in Ethiopia’s Somali Region

WHO surge team holds daily morning meetings

WHO’s support to the response of the acute watery diarrhoea outbreak in Ethiopia’s Somali Region

The Government of Ethiopia, through the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) and the Regional Health Bureaus (RHBs) with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners is responding to an outbreak of Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD) in Amahara, Oromia, SNNP and Somali regions. To support the government’s response implementation, WHO has deployed surge teams of experts in surveillance, case management, WASH, nutrition, risk communication, administration and logistics to the affected regions to support implementation of response activities. Logistical supplies including vehicles, medicines, case management protocols, laboratory reagents, treatment kits and other materials have also been provided. Below is a kaleidoscopic view of activities in Somali region.

WHO surge team holds daily morning meetings to report on activities of the previous day and to update each other on upcoming events. This facilitates cross-pillar support and coordination for efficient resource use.
Reaching affected communities is not always easy.. Some places don’t have roads and others have gravel roads that make the rides bumpy and rough.
Community entry always starts with meeting community leaders to solicit their support and participation in the AWD activities.
WHO surveillance officers support the efforts of the government to identify affected people, where they live and when they were affected in order to guide response activities.
A case management team assesses the AWD treatment sites and ensures setup is as per the national guideline. The team provides onsite orientation and clinical mentoring in patient management, infection prevention and control.
Availability of safe and clean water is critical to halting the transmission of the disease. In collaboration with the Water Bureau and other partners, WASH experts test water quality, distribute water treatment chemicals and demonstrate their use.
Social mobilization activities are part and parcel of the response. WHO and UNICEF risk communication officers regularly meet with communities to ensure that AWD messages are well understood.
In addition to their routine work, WHO surveillance officers also demonstrate proper hand washing, mixing of water treatment chemicals and other hygienic practices to promote health.
The logistics team working with the Regional Health Bureau ensures prompt dispatch of medicines and supplies to all locations where they are needed.
WHO works with other UN agencies in the field to ensure a coordinated response to the outbreak in the spirit of “Delivering as One”.
AWD is coming under control in Somali Region, and WHO response activities have brought a smile on many people’s faces in the region.
AWD is coming under control in Somali Region, and WHO response activities have brought a smile on many people’s faces in the region.
WHO surge team holds daily morning meetings
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For Additional Information or to Request Interviews, Please contact:
Caroline Voute

Deputy Incident Manager
Email: voutec [at] who.int (voutec[at]who[dot]int)

Tseday Zerayacob

Communications Officer
Email: negasht [at] who.int (negasht[at]who[dot]int)