GOTG was one of the first organisations to respond to the cholera outbreak in Messina and Beit Bridge in November 2008. Following a visit to Zimbabwe on 23rd November 2008 by a team of health workers from the Department of Health (National and Limpopo Province) made an assessment as to the support that was need to contain Cholera at Beit Bridge.
In response, the disaster relief effort was done in conjunction with the Governments of South Africa and Zimbabwe. Gift of the Givers worked very closely with the Department of Health and Social Development in Limpopo Province and the management of local hospitals.
- GOTG took their first convoy of supplies on 26 November 2008. This included:
- 40,000 water purification tablets
- Cough mixture
- Glucose drips
- Sibusiso Ready Food Supplement
- Blankets and mattresses
- Tents
- Plastic buckets with lids
- Gloves and Masks
- Bottled Water
- A Generator (for Beit Bridge Hospital)
- Food parcels
- Medical supplies: admin sets for adults and paediatrics, Canula/Cath
Three weeks later, there was a cholera outbreak in Madimbo, 18 km from Limpopo River. At the time, patients were being transferred (by ambulance) from Madimbo to Messina Hospital (a 130 km journey) for treatment. For this reason, the Department of Health in Limpopo requested GOTG to open a clinic in Madimbo, and shortly afterwards, we set up a clinic at Madimbo.
Every week the hospitals were provided with groceries (food) and detergents. (Beitbridge Hospital, Zimbabwe, Messina Hospital and Madimbo Clinic). Towards the end of December, the corporates came on board and we received a consignment of water and plastic water drums, courtesy of Aquelle Water, Megapak, The Responsible Container Management Association of South Africa, Polyoak Packaging and the Railway Safety Regulator.
We also received a large consignment of water purification sterilizer from Milton. This was dispatched immediately to the affected areas, the first lot of water and drums going to Messina Hospital. The 20 litre drums were also distributed to the surrounding villages near Musina. The drums were given with the Milton water sterilizers. In the villages, the people were first given some basic hygiene tips in the prevention of cholera. The containers were used to store their clean purified water. Messina Hospital also distributed the drums to rural patients seeking treatment for Cholera.
During Christmas, we sent 500 food parcels (valued at R300 each) in conjunction with SAPS Border Police and the Zimbabwean Immigration. The second delivery was to the Madimbo Clinic, a fully-fledged Cholera clinic set up by Gift of the Givers and run by the Department of Health. We provided a huge tent to serve 80 people, the beds, the mattresses, blankets, gloves, water, medical supplies (glucose drips, water purification tablets), Jik.
We did a hygiene campaign in Zimbabwe and South Africa, going to the rural areas. We gave them a 20 litre can with Jik and volunteers went out to the areas to inform them about cholera prevention and general hygiene. In Zimbabwe, GOTG partnered with South Africa’s Department of Public Works for sanitation services – fixing of sewage system in certain area close to the border. This clinic is 18 km from the border and was set up to treat people as they cross over into from Zimbabwe into South Africa. This is one of the worst-affected Cholera-stricken areas. Clean water is scarce here, and the number of infected people means that extra care has to be taken in terms of dealing with and treating the patients. The bottled water was used at this clinic and distributed at this point. This was much needed by the people, who travelled (some even walked) long distances, and crossed dangerous areas to reach the clinic. They would come in dehydrated and suffering from effects of Cholera. Patients from Zimbabwe come from far away places to be treated at this clinic and these drums are a way that they can ensure having clean water for their journey and at their homes.
Water was also dispatched to the Beit Bridge Hospital in Zimbabwe. The bottled water was also distributed at the municipal showground in Musina, a parking area where many Zimbabwean asylum seekers are seeking shelter. There is no refugee camp in Messina and the asylum seekers are living there in semi-squatting conditions, where there are a few chemical toilets and only one watering point.
The most recent dispatch of the bottled water and drums were supplied to Dilikong Hospital which is 16 km from Burgersfort in Limpopo. The most recent outbreak of Cholera was reported in this area about five weeks back. The water, Miltons, buckets, blankets and mattresses was supplied to the hospital, who then distributed it to the patients and people coming to the hospital.
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