Since the beginning of Zimbabwe’s cholera epidemic in August last year, more than 3,700 people have already died and over 80,000 people have become infected.  The World Health Organisation expects up to 100,000 cases in the coming months. 

All ten of Zimbabwe’s provinces are affected and there are fears that the onset of the rainy season could increase the risk of the disease spreading.  The Red Cross has deployed seven emergency response units to Zimbabwe; these units are normally reserved for disasters such as earthquakes or the 2004 Asian tsunami.

In December, Trans World Radio began broadcasting the “Healthy Life” series.  TWR was the first radio station to create a programme in response to the outbreak and workers from the World Health Organization commended our proactivity in this regard.  CDs of the programme were given to the World Health Organization to be passed on to community health workers in Zimbabwe.

 “We are currently looking at broadcasting from border FM stations in Botswana and South Africa,” says Winfred Oppong-Amoako, TWR’s HIV/AIDS Coordinator.

The programme is currently available in English and Shona.