dyton mupawaenda
Rumbidzayi Zinyuke-Senior Health Reporter
The Government has put in place measures to identify all cholera cases and institute treatment to ensure that the current cholera outbreak is brought under control.
Zimbabwe has been recording cases of cholera in rural areas and more recently in some urban areas.
Health and Child Care Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora, who was represented by Permanent Secretary Dr Aspect Maunganidze at the first curtain raiser press conference ahead of the International Conference on Aids and STIs in Africa (ICASA) in Harare yesterday, said the outbreak was under control and would not affect the hosting of the conference.
“As you are all aware, Zimbabwe will be hosting the 22nd edition of the International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa. All Government systems and structures from security, transportation, health, banking, accommodation and travel, have been mobilised to provide the necessary support and services before and during the conference.
“Our health systems and services have also been mobilised to ensure that both visitors and locals have access to services,” he said.
“You may have heard recently that there was an outbreak of cholera in some parts of Zimbabwe. I wish to assure you all and our visitors that the isolated outbreak has been contained and our surveillance system is exceptionally effective and has picked all cases and they have been treated.”
According to statistics from the Ministry of Health and Child Care’s situation report for October 29, a total of 5 964 suspected cholera cases had been reported with 1 055 confirmed cases,and 5 696 recoveries. There have been a cumulative 123 suspected cholera deaths and 43 fatalities confirmed.
On Sunday, a total of 108 new suspected cholera cases were reported and three suspected deaths.
Chitungwiza reported 34 of those cases while Buhera, which has been the hotspot for the past few weeks, reported 31 cases. Harare, Mutare and Gutu all reported 11 cases each and the rest were recorded in Zaka (4), Chipinge (3), Chegutu (2) and Sanyati (1).
To date, 43 districts in the country have reported cases.
A total of 102 cases are hospitalised at various institutions across the country with the biggest number reported in Buhera where 38 patients are in care.
Chiredzi had two cases in care while Zaka had three, Gutu (6), Bikita (3), Chipinge (13), Mutare Rural (14) Chimanimani (1), Makoni (2) and UMP (1), Chegutu (3) Sanyati (1) and Bindura (1). Harare had 10 hospitalised cases at Beatrice Road Infectious Disease Hospital and four others were in Chitungwiza.
The national recovery rate is at 97 percent.
Cholera is spread by the ingestion of contaminated food or water and can cause severe diarrhoea. While most of those affected will have mild or no symptoms, cholera can kill within hours if untreated.
ICASA 2023 president Dr David Parirenyatwa reiterated that the adoption of an all-government approach was key in eliminating the outbreak and stressed the importance of proper hygiene.
“We have had incidences of cholera and we are pleased that the Ministry of Health and Child Care has taken it on board and the Minister has gone on the ground to assess what is going on.
“I know that there is going to be a whole Government approach so that we are able to swat it completely.
“The message to our people is that funerals and church services should be monitored and we want to discourage handshaking and overcrowding.
“We encourage washing of hands. It’s a question of hygiene and awareness so as we get towards ICASA and other important conferences, we must fight cholera as a country,” he said.
Online Reporter