Cholera kills Hwange couple

Fairness Moyana in Hwange, Correspondent

A HWANGE couple is suspected to have succumbed to cholera as the district has so far recorded five confirmed cases of the disease.

Confirming the development, Hwange District medical officer, Dr Fungayi Musinami said there were working to contain the cases.

“We have 26 suspected cases, five which have been confirmed and two suspected deaths. We say suspected because we are not able to conduct cholera tests post-mortem. They will remain classified as suspected deaths. Emergency response mechanisms have however been activated. The district and provincial teams have been on the ground to assess the situation and provide technical support to the teams in Hwange,” said Dr Musinami. She said the ministry recorded suspected cases on Monday and further testing confirmed cholera cases from Hwange urban. Dr Musinami said treatment centres had been set up with health promotion campaigns.

“Treatment centres have been set up and the social behaviour change communication activities are also ongoing. All pillars are working to contain the outbreak. We are also appealing to all our stakeholders for support. The outbreak can only be contained through a multi-sectoral approach.”

The district medical officer allayed fears by residents in Victoria Falls over the high risk that they and the tourist population face in the face of the Zambian outbreak.

“We have been on high alert in view of the outbreak in Zambia. We are in communication with our Zambian counterparts as we respond to the outbreak. We have increased surveillance at the ports of entry and enforcement of the provisions of the Public Health Act.”

The ministry said all suspected cases were recorded in Hwange urban, particularly Hwange Colliery Company’s concession area. Makwika and Sinderella areas in Hwange were identified as hotspots of the diseases with residents expressing fears that lack of access to water placed them at high risk.

Greater Whange Residents Trust co-ordinator, Mr Fidelis Chima said, “The state of the communal facilities and the lack of water puts the residents at high risk of contracting cholera. The lack of water in these areas only serve to exacerbate the situation. We urge the company to act quickly in addressing this challenge.”

In response to the outbreak, Hwange Local Board (HLB) has banned all open air worship and launched a blitz on unlicensed food handlers. Cholera is transmitted primarily through the faecal-oral route. Citizens are encouraged to exercise hygiene especially in food preparation, drink water from safe sources and use the correct facilities for defecation.