IRC responds to the worst cholera crisis in Chad in more than a decade

Cholera causes severe diarrhea and vomiting and can result in dehydration and death within hours if not detected and treated quickly.

In August, the IRC deployed emergency medical teams to support local health officials in Abeche, in eastern Chad, where more than 200 cases of cholera have been reported. Abeche serves as the main transit point for nearby camps that host more than 260,000 refugees who have fled conflict in Sudan’s Darfur region. 

The town’s relative population density and lack of sanitation and water infrastructure make it a perfect breeding ground for cholera, allowing the disease to spread quickly.  

“The presence of cholera in Abeche is extremely serious,” said Felix Leger, the IRC’s country director in Chad.  “These are densely populated camps, so it is crucial that we contain the disease before it spreads even further.” 

The IRC has set up a cholera treatment center in Abeche, staffed by a doctor, five nurses and a cholera response coordinator. The facility treats an average of 29 patients a day. The IRC also supplied an ambulance to transport the most serious cases to the hospital for care.  

 “Since the IRC launched our emergency medical response, the cholera mortality rate in Abeche has dropped from six percent to just one percent,” said Leger.