dyton mupawaenda
Primrose Zimano–Herald Reporter
Over 5 200 cases of cholera have now been recorded in Harare in the current outbreak with 456 confirmed new cases and 49 deaths, with Kuwadzana, Dzivarasekwa, Glen View, Highfield and Hopely suburbs having the highest number of deaths, a top city council official said.
As the cholera epidemic worsens, Harare City Council Epidemiologist Dr Michael Vere blamed the rise to shortage of clean water and uncollected solid waste, saying it is making the spread of the disease dire in Harare since last year.
Dr Vere said a survey commissioned by the City of Harare concluded that activities like gathering during the festive season might have contributed to the current surge of cases in Harare.
He said the source of water for Harare, Lake Chivero has dirty water and it needed adequate chemicals for it to be safe for drinking which the city is battling to constantly supply.
“We are also asking for the Government to intervene because we do not have enough revenue to buy chemicals,” he said.
Dr Vere said about 60 percent of boreholes in Harare were also contaminated.
“The city council will rehabilitate boreholes with inline chlorine water and also bucket chlorination,” he said.
“Water guard chemical is going to be distributed to the affected areas.”
Dr Vere said as for solid waste management the city, through the huge support from the Government and private sectors, has been making strides to clear garbage under Operation Chenesa Harare.
He, however said water supply was still a cause for concern and was one of the major factors contributing in the cholera outbreak.
Online Reporter