Imperial College Lecture Theatre 1 (G16), Sir Alexander Fleming Building, Imperial College Road, South Kensington
MSF field communications officer on the cholera epidemic of 2008
In 2008, Joanna Stavropoulou, field communications officer for Médecins Sans Frontières, was in Zimbabwe reporting on MSF’s long term projects. Whilst there she witnessed the overwhelming cholera outbreak that devastated the county.
MSF staff try to clear the backlog of patients that extends into the street in Beitbridge, Zimbabwe. November 2008.
Photo by MSF
With over 150,000 people affected it was the biggest cholera epidemic the country had ever seen. Joanna lived through the explosive escalation of the outbreak, a couple of cases peaking to thousands in the span of just two days.
Her presentation is a first-hand account of life during this emergency. This is a particularly insightful account of humanitarian work and the numerous issues MSF faces on the ground.
Friday 13th November, 19:00
Free for anyone to attend (subject to space)