PUBLIC Health expert and Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) Executive Director, Mr Itai Rusike has called on President Emerson Mnganagwa to act swiftly and declare the prevailing Cholera outbreak a National Disaster before the health situation gets out of hand.
By Michael Gwarisa
His call comes in the midst of numerous Cholera cases that have been recorded and confirmed mostly in rural areas across the country with Buhera District in Manicaland province being the hardest hit.
In an interview with HealthTimes, Mr Rusike said the situation on the ground was worsening by the day and needs more partners on board.
According to the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) Cholera situation report, as of 25 October 2023, 62 new suspected cholera cases, (0) suspected deaths and (5) laboratory confirmed results were reported. The cases were reported from Buhera (20), Gutu (16), Chipinge (12), Mutare (6), UMP (3), Chiredzi (2), Harare (2) and Murehwa (1). 41 districts have reported cases so far in the country.
We are hoping that the President will declare a national disaster because that will allow other agencies to come in and support the government both in terms of health education, health information, treatment and case tracing,” said Mr Rusike.
“We know that the government and local authorities cannot do it alone. It’s high time we should use the same approach that we used in 2008/2009 when a lot of development partners, the private sector, Civil Society and Other stakeholders came in to support the government or else we will have another crises of the proportion of 2009/09 when almost 100,000 people were affected and more than 4000 people died. We don’t want that.”
As of 25 October 2023, 79 hospitalized cases read as follows: Chiredzi (6),Zaka (1), Gutu (16) in Masvingo Province, Buhera (29),Chipinge (12), Mutare Rural (6) Chimanimani (2) in Manicaland Province, BRIDH (2) in Harare Province , Thorngroove (1) in Bulawayo City, UMP (3) in Mash East Province and Chegutu (1) in Mash West Province.
Mr Rusike added that the borehole water infrastructure in most rural areas had broken down and as a result, most communities were accessing water in streams, shallow wells and other unsafe sources.
However, government through the Ministries Local government and that Health has initiated the drilling of boreholes in communities where Cholera has hit the most, with borehole rigs having already been deployed to Buhera and Murambinda to commence work.
Dr Douglas Momemshora, the Minister of Health told Journalists in Buhera recently that all was set for the drilling of boreholes in the affected areas to minimize on the spread of the diseases.
“As government, we already had a programme of drilling boreholes in clinics. Now that we have this crises here, we have ordered the borehole rigs to be brought here so that drilling starts. We have noted that most people who are admitted here have no access to clean and safe water at their homes so we want to address that,” said Dr Mombeshora.
Meanwhile, the obtaining cholera outbreak is spreading fast in communities where white garment religious groups are prominent. In Buhera , Murehwa and Uzumba Maramba and Pfungwe, cases were reported first in members of white garment communities.
Reverend Chitanda UDACIZA General Secretary said, “We are trying our level best to teach our members on the issues of Cholera. Unfortunately, due to resources constraints, sometimes we struggle to reach out to our communities with advocacy work in the remote areas. We have been going with our begging bowls to partners but we have nit been getting support,” said Rev Chitanda.
As of October 26. Zimbabwe had recorded 5 557 suspected cholera cases, 1 023 confirmed cases, 5 327 recoveries, 35 Confirmed deaths and 116 suspected deaths.
