For Release: May 26, 2005
FILMAID INTERNATIONAL JOINS FORCES WITH THE IRC TO CONTAIN CHOLERA OUTBREAK IN KENYA REFUGEE CAMP
A serious outbreak of cholera in the Kenya's Kakuma refugee camp, home to some 88,000 refugees, 60 percent of them from neighboring Sudan has been contained thanks to a collaboration between FilmAid International and the IRC. The cholera outbreak was triggered by heavy rains three weeks ago and exacerbated by consumption of contaminated water in the overcrowded camp. Sixty-six cases of cholera, three of them fatal, have been detected in the camp and surrounding communities.
When the first signs of the fatal disease emerged, IRC teams, responsible for overall health services in the camp quickly established a cholera isolation ward for treating serious cases and an extensive cleaning campaign was launched to raise awareness about how to halt the outbreak in the vast camp, FilmAid International joined forces with the IRC to develop a short film about cholera prevention. It was recorded in Arabic and Dinka, the main languages spoken at the camp, and has since been shown to 22,000 people in and around Kakuma. IRC's deputy director Kelly Williams says the combination of treatment, improved sanitation and prevention education succeeded in containing the outbreak.
All Times Eastern
Contact:
Emily MacDonald
FilmAid International
24 East 23rd Street
Third Floor
New York, N.Y. 10010
Tel: (212) 529-1088
Email: emacdonald@filmaidinternational.org
