US$12 Million boost for national cholera outbreak response

Harare (New Ziana) – The Zimbabwe government has approved US$12 million funding for the national cholera outbreak response as the country battles to stop the spread of the highly
contagious disease.

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Dr Jenfan
Muswere said this while addressing the media after the weekly Cabinet
meeting on Tuesday.

He said his Health and Child Care counterpart, Dr Douglas Mombeshora had
told Cabinet that medicines orders and commodities have been placed
through Natpharm, prioritizing local manufacturers to minimize on lead
time.

Dr Mombeshora said screening of all travelers and awareness campaigns
are ongoing at all points of entry, while health education on cholera
prevention and control measures including hygiene promotion is being
carried out in the provinces.

He said in response, Cabinet has directed that there be intensified risk
communication and community engagement including involvement of
religious and local leadership.

There should also be intensified school health education on cholera and
other diarrheal diseases, and utilization of existing media houses and
digital platforms for continued content dissemination continued in all
provinces especially Chitungwiza, Harare Metropolitan and Buhera,
Manicaland, he said.

Cabinet also directed that there be improved safe water access to
communities through rehabilitation of boreholes and drilling of new
ones, public health measures be enforced in all communities reporting
cholera cases including restrictions of gatherings and supervision of
all burials in the affected areas.

Meanwhile the Ministry of Health and Child Care on Tuesday reported that
106 new suspected cholera cases and 5 suspected deaths had been
recorded.

Of the reported suspected cases, there were seven laboratory confirmed
results.

The cases were reported from Chitungwiza City (33), Harare (16), Buhera
(15), Mutare (13), Chiredzi (6), Makonde (6), Gutu (4), Mutare City (3),
Mazowe (2), Chegutu (2), Kwekwe (2), UMP (2), Guruve (1) and Chivi (1).
44 districts in the country have reported cholera cases so far.

The Ministry said the 106 cases are hospitalized at Chivi (1), Gutu (3),
Chiredzi (5) in Masvingo province, Buhera (26),Chipinge (13), Mutare
Rural (24), Chimanimani (1), Mutare City (6), in Manicaland province,
BRIDH (7) in Harare province, Chitungwiza City (4) , Chegutu (4),
Makonde (5) in Mash West province and Guruve (1) Mazowe (3) in Mash
Central province, UMP (1) in Mash East province and Kwekwe Hospital CTC
(2) in Midlands province.

At least 64 new recoveries were recorded, placing the national recovery
rate at 96 percent.

Zimbabwe has so far recorded 6 598 suspected cholera cases, 1 134
confirmed cases and 6 311 recoveries.

New Ziana