Red
Cross steps up response to Angola’s Marburg outbreak
15
April 2005
The
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has
stepped up its support to the Angolan Red Cross (CVA) as its volunteers
continue to work to combat the spread of the highly contagious Marburg
haemorrhagic fever, which has so far claimed at least 215 lives.
Since the first cases of the Ebola-like Marburg virus were reported
in the northern province of Uige in October 2004, there have been
235 cases registered. Of these, 215 have died, the large majority
of them in Uige.
At least 45 CVA volunteers are working with Ministry of Health staff
in Uige to disseminate information and advice on prevention and control
to the local population, whether through public talks at marketplaces
or by visiting their homes. “These door-to-door dissemination
activities are essential if we are to ensure that everyone is getting
the right message and knows what steps to take to avoid the spread
of the disease. This is especially true of remote and hard-to-reach
communities,” says Dr Aleixo Goncalves, Secretary General of
the Angola Red Cross. “Also of great importance is the close
coordination we have with the health authorities and the other actors
working to combat this disease.”
The CVA national headquarters in Luanda has sent a range of essential
supplies to its branch in Uige, including gloves, masks, medicines,
disinfectant, oral re-hydration salts and needles. It is also in constant
contact with its branches in the provinces of Malange, Kwanza Norte,
Kwanza Sul, Zaire, Cabinda and Bengo, which are at risk due to their
proximity to Uige. In each of these provinces, 20 volunteers are involved
social mobilization and dissemination activities.
The response to the virus in Uige has been overshadowed by the deaths
of three CVA volunteers and a colleague from a local non-governmental
organisation, who were struck by lightening while working on social
mobilization activities in the city of Uige.
Meanwhile, the International Federation has released 65,000 Swiss
francs from its Disaster Response Emergency Fund and deploying a technical
team led by a medical doctor to assist the CVA’s response to
the outbreak. The International Federation has considerable experience
of responding to similar situations, most notably outbreaks of Ebola
haemorrhagic fever in the Republic of Congo, Gabon and Uganda.
“In a situation like this, in which communication is essential,
Red Cross volunteers, who often come from the affected communities
themselves, have a crucial role to play, complementing the work of
the Ministry of Health and international agencies such as the World
Health Organisation. They enjoy the trust of local people and understand
their traditions, and so are well placed to put in place effective
control measures,” says Dr Elizabeth Mbizvo, senior health officer
at the International Federation’s Secretariat in Geneva.
For further information, or to set up interviews,
please contact:
In Harare:
Tapiwa Gomo, regional information officer Tel: +263 4 705 166 / +263
91 345 936
In Geneva:
Roy Probert, Media Officer, Geneva Tel. + 41 22 730 4296 / +41 79
217 33 86
Media Service Duty Phone Tel: + 41 79 416 3881
The Geneva-based International Federation
promotes the humanitarian activities of 181 National Red Cross and
Red Crescent Societies among vulnerable people. By coordinating international
disaster relief and encouraging development support, it seeks to prevent
and alleviate human suffering. The Federation, National Societies
and the International Committee of the Red Cross together, constitute
the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
© International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
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