Jowhar Hospital has seen an increased number of patients following an outbreak of Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD) in Jameco Mubarak village, 10 kilometers east of Jowhar District in the Middle Shabelle region.

The Somali Red Crescent Society (SRCS) has deployed volunteers to assist Jowhar Hospital in response to the needs of the patients. While cholera has not yet been confirmed, there are concerns the situation might deteriorate.

The hospital has had a total of 102 cases being admitted since the beginning of October. The medical facility is supported by INTERSOS, an Italian humanitarian organization.

SRCS sent eight volunteers to help the hospital with its staffing needs. It also donated 10 tents for the patients who are kept in isolation, 45 mosquito nets, 10 buckets and 200 sachets of oral rehydration salt. Discharged patients were also given aquatabs and health education on prevention of AWD.

Weather experts say East Africa should experience El Niño rains in late 2015, and with the Deyr rainy season upon the Shabelle and Juba regions, above-normal rainfall is expected to cause flooding that will increase the risk of water borne diseases.

ICRC and the SRCS are actively preparing to respond to likely emergencies.