By Sharon Chimenya
ZIMBABWE Red Cross Society handed over Personal Protective Equipment to Masvingo City clinics under the Monkey Pox preparedness and responses initiatives. The country recorded two cases of Mpox last year and according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is caused by the monkeypox virus.
Common symptoms of Mpox are a skin rash or mucosal lesions which can last two to four weeks accompanied by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy and swollen lymph nodes.
Mpox can be transmitted through close contact with someone who has Mpox, with contaminated materials, or with infected animals. Red Cross Provincial Manager, Robert Chikuku, said the donation was part of the efforts to strengthen prevention and control measures against Mpox.
“This donation includes PPE, other clinical materials and it is part of our efforts to strengthen prevention control measures in the wake of Mpox preparedness and response efforts in the province. Frontline health care workers are the backbone of our public health system, they put themselves at risk every day to safeguard our lives, often in challenging conditions,” he said.
“It is our duty as humanitarian organisation to support them by ensuring that they have necessary protective material to carry out their work safely and effectively. This is a direct response to the request submitted under the Mpox preparedness framework and it’s a reflection of our shared commitment to Government and local authorities to build resilient health systems that can respond swiftly and safely to public health emergencies.”
Masvingo City’s acting director of Health and Environmental Services, Sithabile Matava, said the donation would help supplement their health Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) requirements significantly.
“When someone sees a bin liner or a tissue paper, they might think they cost a dollar, but these items are expensive, especially when you are given a large quantity. We struggle to buy these things; we really do. Some of the funds we spend on these items could be used to upgrade our systems,” she said.
“I want to express our sincere appreciation to the Red Cross for this generous gesture. They mobilised resources for Masvingo City Council to combat Mpox. Though it may seem Mpox is gone, it is still present, and we use these items, not just for Mpox prevention, but for other things as well.”
New Ziana
