Highlights
• Twenty new districts with high GAM levels (5% and above) have been prioritized for nutrition emergency response based on the ZimVAC assessment report of July 2016. In the month of July, 529 children were admitted for SAM treatment in the 20 districts, this brings the number of children aged 6-59 months treated for SAM in the 20 Districts to a cumulative total of 3,947.
• Based on weekly epidemiological data, there was a downward trend in reported typhoid cases from week ending 17 July 2016. To date, 1,740 typhoid cases have been reported in the country, out of which 74 have been laboratory confirmed with 6 typhoid related deaths reported. UNICEF has ensured adequate supply of Ringer Lactate and Ciprofloxacin throughout the country. Sufficient stocks are prepositioned for effective response.
• During the reporting month, UNICEF received US $2,508,094 from USAID (Food for Peace $1,508,094 and OFDA $1,000,000) to implement drought response interventions in highly food and nutrition insecure districts.
SITUATION IN NUMBERS
4 million People facing food and nutrition insecurity from January - March 2017 (ZimVAC, July 2016)
3,947 Children 6-59 months with SAM from 20 drought affected districts were admitted and treated in the CMAM program between January - July 2016 (DHIS, August 2016)
1,740 Cumulative typhoid cases, 1,666 suspected, 74 laboratory confirmed and 6 deaths reported (MoHCC, August 2016)
Situation Overview & Humanitarian Needs
Weekly reports on SAM admissions show that 2 districts, namely Chimanimani and Gokwe South, have consistently reported high rates of admissions since the beginning of the year. Chimanimani is part of the 20 most affected districts and has a GAM rate of 6.9%. In the 20 districts with high GAM rates, a projected 30,529 children 6-59 months will require SAM treatment in 2016 (ZimVac, July 2016). Figure 1 below shows the 20 districts with high rates of GAM. Three districts with the highest rates of GAM above 10% also reported high rates of SAM (Kariba-8.3%, Gweru-8.1% and Shamva-6.3% respectively). Binga is the exception with a GAM rate of 11% but a SAM prevalence rate of 3.2%. This could be attributed to nutrition interventions which were supported by the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and included the treatment of MAM which contributed to the prevention of SAM.
According to the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA), the availability of water in the major dams across the country is critical with a reported storage capacity of 48.3% by mid-august against an expected capacity of 65.40% during this time of the year. Two catchments, namely Save and Runde, are the most affected as water levels are continuing to decline. Current water levels for Save and Runde catchments are 44.3% and 21.80%, respectively. The catchments provide water in the drought affected Provinces of Masvingo, Manicaland, Matabeleland South, Midlands and Mashonaland East. According to the latest Epidemiological report, there has been an increase in the number of districts affected by typhoid. A total of 6 districts reported typhoid during the reporting month, namely Harare, which is the Epi-centre of the outbreak, as well as Chegutu, Hurungwe, Shamva, Gweru and Bulawayo. Comparing monthly epidemiological data there has been a downward trend in typhoid cases from the week of 13 March 2016 due to regular health and WASH interventions. Early case detection, case management and early health seeking behaviours have also contributed to a very low case fatality rate.
The Twentieth Annual Southern Africa Regional Climate Outlook Forum (SARCOF) was held in Harare during the month; one of the key outputs of the forum was the consensus forecast that was presented. The forecast highlighted that there is at least a 60% chance of a La Niña phenomenon occurring in Southern Africa, with Zimbabwe likely to receive normal to above-normal rainfall for most of the period October to December 2016 and January to March 2017.