Harare, (New Ziana)- The Ministry of Health and Child Care has announced a series of measures aimed at containing the spread of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), which has been reported in several parts of the country, including Bulawayo where recent samples were first detected.

Responding to questions in Parliament on Wednesday, deputy Minister of Health and Child Care, Sleiman Kwidini said the disease has been observed in some communities and emphasised the importance of public cooperation in preventing further transmission.

He urged schools, clinics and other public facilities to strengthen hygiene practices and ensure that infected individuals are isolated promptly.

“We want to urge people to take measures which are going to lead to the isolation of those who have the disease so that it is not transmitted to other people,” he said.

To improve public awareness, he said the Ministry plans to establish a Health Promotions Department dedicated to nationwide education campaigns on HFMD prevention and other public health concerns.

Addressing concerns about detection capacity, Kwidini explained that laboratory testing for HFMD is currently centralised at national level.

Samples from affected patients, especially those from Bulawayo where the outbreak originated, are being analysed locally, with some sent to neighbouring countries for confirmation.

“We have collaborations with other countries, especially South Africa and Botswana,” he said.

While district hospitals do not yet have the ability to conduct tests for newly emerging diseases, Kwidini assured Parliament that national laboratory services are equipped with the necessary antigens and reagents to carry out accurate testing.

New Ziana