WHILE previous Cholera outbreaks in Zimbabwe were recorded in urban areas where there is poor water and sanitation services, the obtaining Cholera outbreak seem to be spreading fast in rural communities.
By Michael Gwarisa
Zimbabwe reported its first Cholera case in February this year in Chegutu before the outbreak spread to the country’s 10 provinces. The outbreak at some point subsided, only to resurface in Buhera, Manicaland province, where majority of those dying and contracting the diseases are white garment sect members according to government.
As of October, 20 2023, 47 new suspected cholera cases, (1) suspected death and (0) laboratory confirmed results were reported today according to the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) daily Cholera Situation Report.
The cases were reported from Buhera (19), Chiredzi (7), UMP (4), Murehwa (4), Gutu (4), Shamva (2), Mutare (2), Bikita (2), Zaka (1), Bindura (1) and Harare (1). 41 districts have reported cases so far in the country. As of 20 October 2023, 94 cases were hospitalized at Bikita CTC (3), Chiredzi (7),Zaka (7), Gutu (10) in Masvingo Province, Buhera (26),Chipinge (14), Mutare Rural (2) in Manicaland Province, Pari hosp (5), BRIDH (1) in Harare Province Shamva (2), Bindura (1) in Mash Central Province and Thorngroove (3) in Bulawayo City and UMP (9) and Murehwa (4) in Mash East Province.
Speaking in Buhera recently, health and child care minister, Dr Douglas Mombeshora said there is need to improve access to safe drinking water for rural communities affected by Cholera.
We have discovered that most people who are sick here do not have access to safe and clean water. We decided during the week that one of the rigs drilling boreholes in clinics should come here in Murambinda to drill boreholes so that the people can access safe drinking water. We are looking at drilling eight boreholes here starting this week. The boreholes will be installed with a solar system, a pump and tank,” said Dr Mombeshora.
Zimbabwe has to date recorded 5 303 suspected cholera cases, 981 confirmed cases, 5 060 recoveries, 34 Confirmed deaths and 115 suspected deaths. To date suspected and confirmed cases have been reported in 41 districts in all the 10 provinces of the country since the beginning of 2023.
As of the 20th of October 2023, a cumulative total of 5 303 suspected cholera cases, 34 laboratory confirmed deaths, 115 suspected cholera deaths & nine-hundred and forty-seven (947) laboratory confirmed cases were reported.
