By Kudakwashe Pembere
In an interview with the Ministry’s Director for Epidemiology and Disease Control Dr Portia Manangazira , she said the provincial medical directorate was also involved in making the plan covering the period until May.
“We have as the health sector, sat down with the provincial medical directorate in Manicaland to come up with a Health Sector Medical Response Plan for Manicaland. It’s basically covering the period between now until May and we will be updating it,” she said.
She said they, “will be looking at all the aspects of coordination, emergency preparedness and response, disease surveillance for possible disease outbreaks.”
The plan will also see that the health staff are well capacitated to deal with diseases that will arise from the Cyclone.
“As you know we are already under intense threat of cholera from neighboring Mozambique. We are also dealing with issues of staff welfare, staff capacitation to deal with the situation and with other health related issues,” Dr Manangazira said.
Dr Manangazira said they require about US$5, 1 million to implement the plan.
“The budget is almost US$5,1 million. We are also looking at the long term issues like water, sanitation and hygiene. We are focusing mostly at Chipinge and Chimanimani. But in terms of disease surveillance we will be looking at Mashonaland East which was affected by rains, and Masvingo so that we will not be hit by outbreaks. Part of it will be secured from government and part of it from partners. We do have a lot of support that has been pledged,” she said.
