THE Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) has expressed dismay by lack of sincerity by government in the face of the menacing Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).
By Kudakwashe Pembere
The want of seriousness being displayed by our government concerning the unprecedented global health crisis caused by the coronavirus outbreak was displayed by the Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa who addressed a rally of more than 100 people in Nyanga today.
“Just a day after declaring the coronavirus pandemic a State of National Disaster and banning public gatherings of more than 100 people, the president Comrade ED Mnangagwa was seen addressing bumper crowds at a rally when the president should be encouraging the general public to avoid crowds, especially in poorly ventilated spaces as the risk of exposure to respiratory viruses like COVID-19 may increase in crowded settings with little air circulation,” said CWGH Executive Director Mr Itai Rusike.
Mr Rusike said the main preoccupation presently is containing the epidemic and remaining healthy.
“Zimbabwe needs to immediately implement strict measures to combat the spread of the deadly COVID-19 including imposing travel restrictions on foreign nationals from high risk countries and ban mass gatherings. This is critical in the face of increasing threats of the spread of contagious disease from affected countries including China, Italy and South Korea,” he said.
The CWGH is worried by the seemingly lackadaisical nature at which the government is dealing with COVID-19 and yet the other countries, with well-functioning health systems have announced total lockdown to combat the spread of the disease.
“We are concerned that Zimbabwe continues to welcome visitors from affected countries including China as if things are normal. Why should Zimbabwe wait until there is an outbreak to take drastic measures?
“The Ministry of Health should take robust and innovative public awareness-raising campaigns to provide people with current, accurate and correct information about the disease and ways they can prevent themselves,” said Mr Rusike.
