Struggling to Contain a Cholera Epidemic in West Africa

MSF is fighting a cholera epidemic along the border between Guinea and Sierra Leone in western Africa.

The onset of the rainy season in western Africa has caused an increase in cholera cases on both sides of the border between Sierra Leone and Guinea. More than 13,000 people have been admitted to hospitals in the cities of Freetown, Sierra Leone, and Conakry, Guinea, since February, when the disease was declared an epidemic. Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) currently has more than 800 beds available to treat cholera patients and is opening additional cholera treatment centers and rehydration points in collaboration with local authorities.

All images 2012 © Holly Pickett

MSF has extensive experience dealing with cholera, and treated more than 130,000 cholera patients worldwide in 2011. Between late-April and mid-May 2012, MSF vaccinated 143,000 people against cholera along the coast of Guinea in collaboration with the Guinean Ministry of Health.

Fishing boats at Bunfi Port in Conakry, Guinea, Aug. 18, 2012. Fishermen and vendors can touch fish contaminated with cholera and ingest it or spread it to others. Guinea is currently struggling to contain a cholera outbreak, which has affected over 3,300 people throughout the country and 2,250 in Conakry and claimed at least 80 lives in the capital, according to the Ministry of Health. MSF team works in extremely impoverished areas of the densely-populated capital, where proper systems for drainage and waste disposal are almost non-existent. Guinea is currently struggling to contain a cholera outbreak, which has affected over 3,300 people throughout the country and 2,250 in Conakry and claimed at least 80 lives in the capital, according to the Ministry of Health. MSF team works in extremely impoverished areas of the densely-populated capital, where proper systems for drainage and waste disposal are almost non-existent. Guinea is currently struggling to contain a cholera outbreak, which has affected over 3,300 people throughout the country and 2,250 in Conakry and claimed at least 80 lives in the capital, according to the Ministry of Health. MSF team works in extremely impoverished areas of the densely-populated capital, where proper systems for drainage and waste disposal are almost non-existent. As of 20 August 2012, MSF, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, is already running cholera treatment centres and rehydration points in the city, and has treated almost 2800 patients.

Holly Pickett

Guinea is currently struggling to contain a cholera outbreak, which has affected over 3,300 people throughout the country and 2,250 in Conakry and claimed at least 80 lives in the capital, according to the Ministry of Health. MSF team works in extremely impoverished areas of the densely-populated capital, where proper systems for drainage and waste disposal are almost non-existent. As of 20 August 2012, MSF, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, is already running cholera treatment centres and rehydration points in the city, and has treated almost 2800 patients.

Holly Pickett

A room is full of female cholera patients at Donka Cholera Treatment Center in Conakry, Guinea, Aug. 16, 2012. Guinea is currently struggling to contain a cholera outbreak, which has affected over 3,300 people throughout the country and 2,250 in Conakry and claimed at least 80 lives in the capital, according to the Ministry of Health. MSF team works in extremely impoverished areas of the densely-populated capital, where proper systems for drainage and waste disposal are almost non-existent. As of 20 August 2012, MSF, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, is already running cholera treatment centres and rehydration points in the city, and has treated almost 2800 patients.

Holly Pickett

Dr. Djibeirou Yay talks with Assitou, who is recovering from cholera, at Donka Cholera Treatment Center in Conakry, Guinea, Aug. 16, 2012. Guinea is currently struggling to contain a cholera outbreak, which has affected over 3,300 people throughout the country and 2,250 in Conakry and claimed at least 80 lives in the capital, according to the Ministry of Health. MSF team works in extremely impoverished areas of the densely-populated capital, where proper systems for drainage and waste disposal are almost non-existent. As of 20 August 2012, MSF, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, is already running cholera treatment centres and rehydration points in the city, and has treated almost 2800 patients.

Holly Pickett

Camara, top, sings to her mother Fatmata, who is battling cholera at Koloma Cholera Treatment Center in Conakry, Guinea, Aug. 18, 2012.Guinea is currently struggling to contain a cholera outbreak, which has affected over 3,300 people throughout the country and 2,250 in Conakry and claimed at least 80 lives in the capital, according to the Ministry of Health. MSF team works in extremely impoverished areas of the densely-populated capital, where proper systems for drainage and waste disposal are almost non-existent. Guinea is currently struggling to contain a cholera outbreak, which has affected over 3,300 people throughout the country and 2,250 in Conakry and claimed at least 80 lives in the capital, according to the Ministry of Health. MSF team works in extremely impoverished areas of the densely-populated capital, where proper systems for drainage and waste disposal are almost non-existent. Guinea is currently struggling to contain a cholera outbreak, which has affected over 3,300 people throughout the country and 2,250 in Conakry and claimed at least 80 lives in the capital, according to the Ministry of Health. MSF team works in extremely impoverished areas of the densely-populated capital, where proper systems for drainage and waste disposal are almost non-existent. As of 20 August 2012, MSF, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, is already running cholera treatment centres and rehydration points in the city, and has treated almost 2800 patients.

Holly Pickett

Ousmane 10, receives fluids through an IV at Donka Cholera Treatment Center in Conakry, Guinea, Aug. 18, 2012. Ousmane arrived at the treatement center the day before, severely dehydrated from cholera. Guinea is currently struggling to contain a cholera outbreak, which has affected over 3,300 people throughout the country and 2,250 in Conakry and claimed at least 80 lives in the capital, according to the Ministry of Health. MSF team works in extremely impoverished areas of the densely-populated capital, where proper systems for drainage and waste disposal are almost non-existent. As of 20 August 2012, MSF, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, is already running cholera treatment centres and rehydration points in the city, and has treated almost 2800 patients.

Holly Pickett

lia, right, 17, and other patients occupy beds outside, because this government-run cholera clinic has no electricity, and without light it is impossible to find the veins for IV needles, in Coyah, about an hour's drive from the capital of Conakry, Guinea, Aug. 17, 2012.Guinea is currently struggling to contain a cholera outbreak, which has affected over 3,300 people throughout the country and 2,250 in Conakry and claimed at least 80 lives in the capital, according to the Ministry of Health. MSF team works in extremely impoverished areas of the densely-populated capital, where proper systems for drainage and waste disposal are almost non-existent. Guinea is currently struggling to contain a cholera outbreak, which has affected over 3,300 people throughout the country and 2,250 in Conakry and claimed at least 80 lives in the capital, according to the Ministry of Health. MSF team works in extremely impoverished areas of the densely-populated capital, where proper systems for drainage and waste disposal are almost non-existent. Guinea is currently struggling to contain a cholera outbreak, which has affected over 3,300 people throughout the country and 2,250 in Conakry and claimed at least 80 lives in the capital, according to the Ministry of Health. MSF team works in extremely impoverished areas of the densely-populated capital, where proper systems for drainage and waste disposal are almost non-existent. As of 20 August 2012, MSF, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, is already running cholera treatment centres and rehydration points in the city, and has treated almost 2800 patients.

Holly Pickett

Nurse Makale´ Keita searches for a vein in the arm of 18-year-old Fatoumata at a government-run cholera clinic with no electricity, in Coyah, about an hour's drive from the capital of Conakry, Guinea, Aug. 17, 2012. Guinea is currently struggling to contain a cholera outbreak, which has affected over 3,300 people throughout the country and 2,250 in Conakry and claimed at least 80 lives in the capital, according to the Ministry of Health. MSF team works in extremely impoverished areas of the densely-populated capital, where proper systems for drainage and waste disposal are almost non-existent. Guinea is currently struggling to contain a cholera outbreak, which has affected over 3,300 people throughout the country and 2,250 in Conakry and claimed at least 80 lives in the capital, according to the Ministry of Health. MSF team works in extremely impoverished areas of the densely-populated capital, where proper systems for drainage and waste disposal are almost non-existent. Guinea is currently struggling to contain a cholera outbreak, which has affected over 3,300 people throughout the country and 2,250 in Conakry and claimed at least 80 lives in the capital, according to the Ministry of Health. MSF team works in extremely impoverished areas of the densely-populated capital, where proper systems for drainage and waste disposal are almost non-existent. As of 20 August 2012, MSF, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, is already running cholera treatment centres and rehydration points in the city, and has treated almost 2800 patients.

Holly Pickett

Men stand near their fishing boats on the Mabela shoreline, where trash and untreated sewage flow into the ocean, in Mabela quarter, Freetown, Sierra Leone, Aug. 13, 2012. Sierra Leone is currently struggling to contain a cholera outbreak, which has affected over 10,000 people and claimed at least 180 lives in the city according to the Ministry of Health. MSF team works in extremely impoverished areas of the densely-populated capital, where proper systems for drainage and waste disposal are almost non-existent. As of mid-August, MSF, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, is already running cholera treatment units in the city, and has treated over 2600 patients.

Holly Pickett

Mabela quarter is one of the most packed, impoverished areas of Freetown, Sierra Leone, Aug. 15, 2012. Sierra Leone is currently struggling to contain a cholera outbreak, which has affected over 10,000 people and claimed at least 180 lives in the city according to the Ministry of Health. MSF team works in extremely impoverished areas of the densely-populated capital, where proper systems for drainage and waste disposal are almost non-existent. As of mid-August, MSF, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, is already running cholera treatment units in the city, and has treated over 2600 patients.

Holly Pickett

Children collect buckets of water next to an open sewer in Mabela quarter, Freetown, Sierra Leone, Aug. 15, 2012. Sierra Leone is currently struggling to contain a cholera outbreak, which has affected over 10,000 people and claimed at least 180 lives in the city according to the Ministry of Health. MSF team works in extremely impoverished areas of the densely-populated capital, where proper systems for drainage and waste disposal are almost non-existent. As of mid-August, MSF, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, is already running cholera treatment units in the city, and has treated over 2600 patients.

Holly Pickett

Nurse, Amie Koroma massages 14-year-old Aminata’s hand and arm after her muscles cramped painfully from dehydration at Wellington Cholera Treatment Center, Freetown, Sierra Leone, Aug. 14, 2012. Sierra Leone is currently struggling to contain a cholera outbreak, which has affected over 10,000 people and claimed at least 180 lives in the city according to the Ministry of Health. MSF team works in extremely impoverished areas of the densely-populated capital, where proper systems for drainage and waste disposal are almost non-existent. As of mid-August, MSF, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, is already running cholera treatment units in the city, and has treated over 2600 patients.

Holly Pickett

Struggling to Contain a Cholera Epidemic in West Africa

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