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- The WHO estimated that more than 1.4 million people in Mozambique, Malawi and Madagascar were affected by Cyclone Freddy.
- Fourteen African countries experienced climate change-induced cholera.
- Governments were urged to invest more in climate resilience.
The full extent of the devastating impact of Cyclone Freddy, which made landfall twice in Madagascar, Mozambique and Malawi, is unknown, but the immediate needs of the affected are a top priority for the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Speaking at a virtual seminar, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO's regional director for Africa, said emergency response efforts were being ramped up to provide relief to the affected communities.
"While we work to understand the full extent of the devastation, our priority is to ensure that affected communities and families receive health assistance for immediate needs as well as to limit the risks of water-borne diseases and other infections spreading," she said.
According to WHO estimates, more than 1.4 million people in the three countries were affected - and it "stretched the capacity of health facilities to the limit. Houses, schools, roads and other infrastructure have been destroyed or damaged, and swathes of farmland inundated".
READ | Cyclone Freddy leaves half a million displaced in Malawi - UN
The WHO sent more than 60 specialists and about R142 million to the impacted nations.
To bolster the cyclone and cholera emergency response, some 184 tons of laboratory, therapy and other essential medical supplies were supplied.
To support disease prevention efforts in Malawi, the WHO dispersed cholera response operation centres to hotspot areas.
To gain public support for the relief response activities, the organisation trained more than 1 500 health professionals in Malawi, Mozambique and Madagascar to deal with disease surveillance, clinical care and community mobilisation.
But the biggest challenge faced in eradicating cholera is infrastructure. This is currently the case for 14 countries on the continent.
As of 20 March, the number of cholera cases in Mozambique had more than doubled - from 1 023 to 2 374.
In contrast, Malawi, which is dealing with its worst-ever cholera outbreak, continued to record a decline, with cases dropping to 1 424, as of March 20, from 1 956 the week before.
"With the rise in climate-related health emergencies in Africa, it's clear that more needs to be done to bolster preparedness for climatic hazards, so that communities can better cope with the impacts of the devastating natural disasters," said Moeti.
Countries in southern Africa have joined in the effort to offer humanitarian assistance to Malawi, Mozambique and Madagascar.
The News24 Africa Desk is supported by the Hanns Seidel Foundation. The stories produced through the Africa Desk and the opinions and statements that may be contained herein do not reflect those of the Hanns Seidel Foundation.
