ZIMFETP Responds to Cyclone Idai Disaster

February 25, 2020

Cyclone Idai is regarded as one of the worst tropical cyclones on record to affect Southern Africa. This cyclone brought strong winds and caused severe flooding and mudslides in Madagascar, Malawi, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Mozambique. In Zimbabwe, 181 people were killed, 183 injured and 347 people were missing as of 5 April 2019. In addition, an estimated 50 000 households and 250 000 people including 120 000 children have been affected by the flooding and landslides. The Zimbabwe Field Epidemiology Training Programme led by its director, Professor Tshimanga carried out a Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) and Health Education in the affected areas of Chimanimani and Chipinge. With support from WHO and AFENET, the main purpose of the CASPER was to determine health and nutrition, food security, water and sanitation plus safety needs of residents living in the affected districts. A cold chain assessment of vaccines and medicines was also carried out at health facilities as well as disease surveillance of epidemic prone conditions. The team comprised 10 second year residents and four coordinators and spent a whole week doing data collection in the affected parts of Chipinge and mainly Chimanimani which was the most affected.  

The team conducted a descriptive cross sectional household survey using the CDC CASPER toolkit. Key findings included;

  1. The majority of households (60%) are relying on river water for drinking which is untreated with a resultant rise in diarrhoeal cases as reported from local clinics.
  2. More than half the households had inadequate food for the next three days hence increased anticipation of malnutrition.
  3. There was severe destruction of sanitation facilities with 58% of households relying on neighbour’s toilet or the bushes.
  4. Significant damage on the majority of households (70%) which led to a significant number of households staying in temporary and neighbours shelters.
  5. Farmlands and livestock destroyed and this has detrimental effects on a community whose livelihoods are largely based on agricultural activities.

A full report of the findings will be published in due course.

Prof Tshimanga crossing a flooded river on a makeshift bridge Copa, Chimanimani
Part of the team interviewing one of the victims of Cyclone Idai in Nyahode, Chimanimani District
Data collection team crossing what is now a flooded river, formerly a road alongside members of the community, Copa Chimanimani Distric
Part of the team inside a military helicopter, sourced by one of the residents, going to Mutsvangwa Clinic, Copa Chimanimani which was inaccessible by road.
Damaged road as a result of Cyclone Idai connecting Mutare to Chimanimani district, Manicaland province
ZIMFETP team during a debriefing meeting in Harare before travelling to Chimanimani-Chipinge area.
Mr Shabeyanga (Far left), second year resident and Dr Gombe(next to him), AFENET Regional Technical Coordinator conducts an interview with victims of Cyclone Idai next to their makeshift shelter in Copa, Chimanimani District
ZIMFETP coordinators attending a coordination meeting with Manicaland Provincial Medical Director, Dr Mafaune (centre) and Dr Chimusoro from WHO (far right) at the Provincial Medical Directorate’s offices, Mutare
Assistant field coordinator, ZIMFETP Mr Simbarashe Chiwanda inspecting a breeding site for mosquitoes, Nyahode Chimanimani
Senior assistant field coordinator, ZIMFETP Ms Tsitsi Juru with a member of the community in the background taking water from an unprotected source in Copa, Chimanimani district
Data collection team at one of the residence of a victim of the Cyclone Idai, Paidamoyo, Chipinge district
Dr Govha (kneeling) and Dr Ingwani (standing), second year residents treating a septic wound of a child, one of the victims of Cyclone Idai, whilst her mother looks on. Copa, Chimanimani District
Mr Chiwanda (far right) is shown a damaged wall after the interview by Cyclone Idai survivors, Nyahode Chimanimani
Ms Juru during one of the household interviews in Copa, Chimanimani
Nurse aide at Mutsvangwa Clinic (right), receiving medicines and sundries from Ms Juru.  Copa, Chimanimani District