Govt to supervise funerals, public gatherings in bid to stop cholera spread

Harare (New Ziana)-In a move aimed at curbing the spreading of cholera, the Ministry of Health and Child Care will supervise all funerals and public gatherings to prevent more transmissions of the water-borne disease.

Addressing the weekly post Cabinet media briefing, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Jenfan Muswere said the government resolved that public health measures such as supervised burials would be enforced in all communities which are reporting cholera cases.

“Cabinet further reiterated additional measures as follows; that all gatherings in cholera-affected areas be supervised inorder to ensure adequate clean water and sanitation provision, that all burials 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,” he said.

As of Saturady, Zimbabwe’s cumulative suspected cholera cases were 5 338 with 5 090 recoveries.

Manicaland and Harare provinces contributed the highest number, having reported 2 524 and 1 654 cumulative cholera cases respectively by Saturday.

Muswere said poor sanitation and low safe water coverage had driven the cholera outbreak, especially in Harare Metropolitan province.

“Twelve boreholes were drilled in Buhera through a borehole drilling project under the Ministry of Health and Child Care,” he said.

Health education on cholera prevention and control measures, including hygiene promotion, is ongoing in provinces, said Muswere.

“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,” he said.

New Ziana