11 th WaterNet/WARFSA/GWP-SA symposium, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe 521 RAPID ASSESSMENT ON CHOLERA PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE IN WASH: THE CASE OF RURAL CHEGUTU, CHIPINGE AND ZAKA Regina Pawaringira a , Fungai Makoni a , Stef Smits b , Takudzwa Mushamba a and Emmanuel Machache a a Institute of Water and Sanitation Development, 7 Maasdorp Avenue, Alexandra Park, P. O. Box MP 422 Mt Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe. b IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre P.O. Box 82327, 2508 EH Den Haag, The Netherlands. Corresponding author email: regina@iwsd.co.zw ; rpahwaringira@yahoo.co.uk Abstract A rapid assessment was carried out, with the objective of identifying the immediate and future cholera preparedness and response interventions in the WASH sector. This focus was on two wards each of the ZIMWASH districts of Chegutu, Chipinge and Zaka as these were among the hardest hit by the epidemic. Tools were formulated which allowed the qualitative data to be quantifiable.The underlying WASH risks that contributed to the triggering of the outbreak included limited access to water and sanitation facilities, non-functional WASH facilities as well as collapse of the primary health care system and preventive health structures. Lack of resources and poor coordination at district level in Chegutu and Zaka resulted responses being reactive. The preventative measures put up by the WASH sector included providing water and sanitation hardware in the affected and non affected areas as well as health and hygiene promotion. These efforts mainly focused on institutions and to lesser extent villages. Community coping mechanisms included behaviour change, boiling drinking water and desisting from open defecation. Generally, communities and institutions in the three districts are still not well prepared to deal with another cholera outbreak of this magnitude. The affected districts should come up with cholera emergency plans and clear definitions of roles and responsibilities of different government institutions. Monitoring and supervision of WASH activities should be strengthened. Water supply can be addressed through the identification and drilling of new water points as well as rehabilitation of existing non functional water points with the beneficiaries being trained in CBM. The need for creation of a demand for sanitation facilities within the communities can not be overemphasised. Keywords: cholera, preparedness, response, sanitation, WASH, ZIMWASH Introduction There have been cholera outbreaks in Zimbabwe since 1972 when the first case was reported in Chipinge’s BirchenoughBridge area. Since 1998, Zimbabwe reported cholera cases each year with the largest outbreak occurring in 1999 accounting for 5637 cases including 385 deaths (CFR 6.8%) (WHO, 2008). In 1998, a total of 995 cases with 44 deaths were reported mainly in Chipinge District, (ManicalandProvince) and Chiredzi