Yemen’s cholera death toll rises to 1,500, says World Health Organisation

The death toll from Cholera epidemic in the Arab country Yemen has increased to 1500. World Health Organization (WHO) representative, Navio Jagaria, gave information and appealed for more help to avoid the outbreak of epidemic.

Speaking at a joint news conference with representatives of United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Bank, Jagaria said that around 246,000 suspected cases had been reported from Chawa by June 30.

Yemen has already been wiped out in a 27-month war between the Saudi-led alliance and the armed Irani-Allied Houthi Group. And now there is a breeding ground for cholera disease spreading due to the stools and poor hygiene that comes in food or water.

Most health infrastructure in Yemen has been exhausted and health workers have not been paid any kind for more than six months. But WHO is giving incentives to employees, doctors, nurses, cleaners and paramedics under an emergency cholera network.

With financial support from the World Bank, WHO is establishing 50-60-bed treatment centers, in which around 14 employees are supervising night patients according to the shift. At present, the aim of WHO is to reach the total capacity of 5000 beds.