WHO-Africa
“Major health risks” after Hurricane Freddy
The devastation caused by Cyclone Freddy in southern Africa exposes the population to “major health risks” in the most affected countries, alert Thursday March 23 the Africa office of the World Health Organization (WHO).
>> Cyclone Freddy affected more than 500,000 people in Malawi
>>Malawi extends school closure in areas affected by Cyclone Freddy
>> Cyclone Freddy death toll rises to 499 in Malawi
| Soldiers and residents search for victims after Typhoon Freddy in Blantyre, Malawi on March 17. |
| Photo: AFP/VNA/CVN |
“More than 300 health facilities have been destroyed or flooded in Madagascar, Malawi and Mozambique, depriving communities of proper access to health services”details WHO-Africa in a press release.
The risks include “an increase in the spread of cholera, malaria, vaccine-preventable diseases, COVID-19 and malnutrition”added the text.
In Malawi and Mozambique, the cyclone “spread in a context already marked by cholera epidemics”recalls WHO-Africa.
In Mozambique, the number of new cases has more than doubled over the past week (from 1,023 to 2,374). Malawi, faced with the worst cholera epidemic in its history, on the other hand continued to record a drop in the number of new cases (1,424 against 1,956). But the damage caused by the cyclone “risk slowing down” this progress, fears the WHO.
“Our priority is to ensure that affected communities and families receive health assistance to meet their immediate needs and limit the risk of disease spread”indicates in the press release the Dre. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.
“Reinforced and concerted humanitarian assistance is essential”insists the WHO.
On track to be ranked the longest cyclone on record, Freddy first hit Madagascar and Mozambique in late February before returning to the Indian Ocean. It had regained power from the warm waters and turned back, heading back to the mainland. When he returned, he had hit landlocked Malawi the hardest.
It killed around 500 people in southern Malawi, the epicenter of the disaster, and more than 650 in total in southern Africa, according to data collected by UN agencies.
AFP/VNA/CVN