https://addisstandard.com/news-analysis ... lega-zone/
By Abdi Biyenssa @ABiyenssa
Addis Abeba – Ongoing malaria outbreak, in conflict ravaged Western Oromia, particularly in the West Wollega and Kellem Wollega zones, has already caused significant harm on human lives including children, sources told Addis Standard. Despite the outbreak running for months, it only started getting attention last week when a social media relief campaign to support the victims was kicked off in light of the severity of the issue.
The UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in its latest situation report, that since January 2023, a total of 774,519 malaria cases with 180 deaths were reported in 117 districts and 7 major towns in the Oromia region, with over 70 per cent of the cases reported from Western Oromia, specifically from West Wollega and Kellem Wollega zones.
A physician working in the West Wollega zone’s health office, who asked not to be named told Addis Standard that as of 12 October, 45 people have died of malaria in health facilities in the zone. A total of 222,268 people were tested and 128,150 (57.65%) were found to be malaria positive.
Solan Bekele, a medical doctor working with a local NGO in the area told Addis Standard that in the face of rampant home deaths, it is likely that the death toll could be significantly higher. In a remote village called Lophi, in the severely affected Begii district, at least 14 households with up to nine family members each have perished due to malaria, Dr Solan said.
The malaria outbreak is also exacerbating other existing health problems, such as malnutrition and anemia, making it difficult for people to cope with the outbreak and increasing the risk of death, he added.
In the West Wollega zone, the outbreak is active in 20 districts and two towns. Babo Gambela, Begii, Qondala, Yubdo, Boji Coqorsa, Guliso, and Lalo Assabi are the most affected districts where health facilities are strained due to high number of patients. The outbreak is also widespread in Dale Sadi, Lalo Kile, Gawo Qebe, Dale Wabara, Canqa, and Hawa Galana districts of Kellem Wollega zone and many people have lost their lives, a local source told the Addis Standard.
Head of Begii hospital in Begii district Getinat Bayisa told Addis Standard that the hospital could only accommodate about fifty patients at a time, but currently admitted 80 malaria patients including by converting dining rooms into bedrooms.
“Lack of critical food and shelter and frequent interruptions in medical supplies are the sources of the spread of epidemic diseases like malaria and cholera,” Getinet said.
In addition, “there is a severe shortage of oxygen and medications. We experienced issues with the oxygen and oxygen cylinders. We were given fifty cylinders by the Ministry of Health, but we still need more,” said Getinet.
However, according to a statement posted on the facebook page of the Begii district communication office on 30 September 2023, all the necessary measures were being taken to control the outbreak including spraying anti-malaria chemicals, distribution of mosquito nets and providing necessary treatment for those who fell ill.