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The census of casualties and damage caused by Tropical Storm Cheneso continues. The toll continues to rise. According to the latest provisional report from the authorities transmitted on Sunday evening, Cheneso killed 27 people, nearly 85,000 victims and 21 people are still missing. While around twenty health infrastructures have also been destroyed or damaged, health care in the most affected areas is proving delicate.
With our correspondent in Antananarivo, Like Laetitia
Flooded basic health centers with roofs blown away. This is described by medical personnel in the Analanjirofo and Boeny regions in the north-east and north-west of the island, the most affected by the storm. « We had to move patients from certain health centers to accommodation sites », testifies the chief doctor of the district of Mitsinjo, in which several zones are landlocked following the rupture of a dike.
« Residents are tired following being hit by this storm but they are trying to get up », he continues. Flu-like illnesses, fevers, coughs or diarrhea due to unsanitary conditions and floods have been observed and treated by medical teams in the accommodation sites, said the director of health for the Boeny region, which has more than 33 000 victims.
« Road cuts are a problem, especially in the districts of Ambato Boeny, Marovoay and Mitsinjo. There are no more tracks to go to certain localities because of the rising waters. You need canoes to get around but it’s very dangerous », emphasizes the regional director of health. Stocks of drugs to treat residents are still sufficient, say officials of these impacted areas.