ZIMBABWE will in few days receive latest fever checking thermometers procured in South Africa by Mimosa Mining Company.
By Kudakwashe Pembere
Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo said this during the first post cabinet briefing for 2020.
The equipment is to be used at the country’s points of entry which he says are on high alert against the Wuhan novel coronavirus.
“At the same times we are equipped in terms of controlling infection our borders, the airports initially and ground ports. Recently we visited Robert Mugabe, Victoria Falls. We have assessed and make sure what is available is adequate for us to be able to screen we have thermodetectors for the purpose of screening, checking on temperatures, checking on fevers which is one of the major symptoms. That equipment is available,” he said.
With 506people under surveillance in Zimbabwe since the declaration of the disease being a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organisation, the thermometers will complement those in existence.
“We have luckily enough been approached by Mimosa and they have decided to donate equipment, the thermodetectors for all our airports which is highly appreciated. Right now as we speak, they went with our Environmental Health director in South Africa where they are shopping for this equipment.
“They will come back probably tomorrow. That new equipment will be put at airports. We have our own equipment but this is now the latest equipment in thermodetection so that we don’t miss any case,” said Minister Moyo.
At the moment, there are 20,647 confirmed cases worldwide with the majority in China. The Health Minister said they do not have test kits at the moment which they are in the process of sourcing from China where the novel coronavirus was first detected through the Chinese Embassy in Zimbabwe
He said the public should be wary of social media messages causing panic among the populace. The Minister also indicated that there are no confirmed cases of coronavirus infection so far in Zimbabwe. He informed Cabinet that a Public Emergency Operations Unit is being set up as a National Command Centre at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals Coordination will include airports and other ports of entry.
