THE Ministry of Health and Child Care is restricting public gatherings following a
cholera case recorded in Bindura.
Bindura District Medical Officer, Dr Tawanda Chiwawa, on Saturday morning said: “I
would like to inform you that we have a cholera patient admitted at Bindura Hospital.
The patient came from Mugawu’s (gold buyer) tanks where he worked and got sick
there. Tests showed he has cholera.”
He added: “This is the only cases recorded so far in the district. So, this is a warning
and alert to watch out for anyone exhibiting diarrhoea and vomiting.
“Let’s wash our hands every time after visiting the toilet, before eating and after
greeting each other. Let us not also eat uncovered cold food, roasted maize,
uncooked vegetables and unwashed fruits. Exercise high level of hygiene, also, we
are discouraged from gathering.”
Zimbabwe has recorded 5338 confirmed cholera deaths since the outbreak started
on February 12.
In a post-Cabinet briefing on Tuesday, The Minister of Information, Publicity and
Broadcasting Services, Dr Jenfan Muswere, said that the Minister of Health and
Child Care, Dr Douglas Mombeshora, painted a gloomy picture of the cholera
outbreak as numbers keep rising with the worst affected provinces being Manicaland
and Harare.
“Cabinet advises that as at 21st October 2023, Zimbabwe’s cumulative suspected
cholera cases were 5 338 with 5 090 recoveries. Manicaland province and Harare
province contributed the highest number of cholera cases in Zimbabwe, having
reported 2 524 and 1 654 cumulative cholera cases, respectively by 21st October,
2023,” Dr Muswere said.
He highlighted that poor sanitation and low safe water coverage had driven the
cholera outbreak, especially in Harare Metropolitan Province.
Minister Muswere said efforts were being made to ensure the availability of safe
drinking water as evidenced by the drilling of twelve boreholes in Buhera in
Manicaland.
“Cabinet reports that health education on cholera prevention and control measures,
including hygiene promotion, is ongoing in provinces.
“Health educators in affected communities have been trained to also facilitate
surveillance and risk communication. Door-to-door cholera campaigns are being
made in the affected provinces.”
In an effort to eliminate new cases public gatherings, including funerals, will be put
under surveillance by health officials to ensure strict adherence to hygiene protocols.
“Cabinet further reiterated additional measures as follows: that all gatherings in
cholera-affected areas be supervised in order to ensure adequate clean water and
sanitation provision; that all burial be supervised, regardless of the cause of death in
all cholera-affected areas to reduce transmission; and that public health measures
be enforced in all communities reporting cholera cases,” the minister added.
The largest cholera outbreak occurred between August 2008 and July 2009, which
recorded 98 592 cases and 4 288 deaths.
