By Tapiwa Svondo
Government says it is conducting door-to-door campaigns to raise public awareness on the spread and preventive measures of cholera with cases surging to 5 338 this past week.
This was said at a cabinet meeting Tuesday by Health and Child Care Minister Douglas Mombeshora.
Giving an update on cabinet deliberations, information minister Jenfan Muswere said cholera cases continued soaring as he outlined measures being employed to tame the rampage.
“As of October 21, 2023, Zimbabwe has recorded a cumulative total of 5 338 suspected cholera cases, with 5 090 individuals having successfully recovered.
“Manicaland province and Harare province have reported the highest number of cases, with 2 524 and 1 654 cumulative cases respectively,” Muswere said.
To address the situation, government has drilled boreholes in Buhera, the epicentre of the recent outbreak and further activated campaigns to quell the situation.
“Twelve boreholes were drilled in Buhera through a borehole drilling project under the Ministry of Health and Child Care,” he said.
“Cabinet reports that health education on cholera prevention and control measures, including hygiene promotion, is ongoing in provinces.
“Health educators in affected communities have been trained to also facilitate surveillance and risk communication.
“Door-to-door cholera campaigns are being made in the affected provinces.”
In a bid to contain the spread, Muswere said, “all gatherings in cholera-affected areas be supervised in order to ensure adequate clean water and sanitation provision.
“All burial be supervised, regardless of the cause of death in all cholera-affected areas to reduce transmission.
“And that public health measures be enforced in all communities reporting cholera cases.”
