Chronicle Editor
Thandeka Moyo-Ndlovu, Senior Health Reporter
FOUR more people have died of suspected cholera in Zimbabwe as 15 new cases have been detected with rising fears that the water-borne disease may spread due to water challenges being experienced in some parts of the country.
Statistics from the Ministry of Health and Child Care show that as of Monday, seven people were hospitalised. Of those, one is at Thorngrove Infectious Diseases Hospital in Bulawayo.
“An additional 15 new suspected cholera cases and four suspected deaths were reported today. These were reported by Mbire (10), Chimanimani (three) and Beitbridge (two). As of Monday, seven cases were hospitalised and these are admitted at Beitbridge District Hospital CTC (3) in Matabeleland South, Bikita District Hospital (one) in Masvingo and the fifth is at Thorngrove Hospital in Bulawayo province.”
The other admissions are at Chimanimani District in Manicaland Province and Chidodo Clinic in Mashonaland Central Province.
The ministry said of the four deaths, one was confirmed from Bikita while three are still suspected.
“We regret to report that we recorded three suspected deaths of Mozambican nationals in Mbire District in Mashonaland Central Province. We also recorded six recoveries and the national recovery rate stands at 18 percent. As of Monday, Zimbabwe had recorded a total of 173 suspected cholera cases, 21 confirmed cases, 157 recoveries and five deaths.”
According to the ministry, there are 17 cholera hotspot districts in the country: Buhera, Chegutu, Chikomba, Chimanimani, Chipinge, Chitungwiza, Chiredzi, Harare, Gokwe North, Marondera, Mazowe, Shamva, Mutare, Murehwa, Mwenezi, Seke and Wedza.
“The first cholera outbreak in the country in 2023 started on the 12th of February 2023 in Chegutu town, Mashonaland West Province.
“To date, cases have been reported in six provinces of the country since the beginning of 2023, with cases in the six provinces having no epidemiological link to each other.”
Plumtree Town Council issued a cholera alert yesterday saying although no cases had been recorded so far, it was on high alert as cases had been detected in Matabeleland South province.
“Members of the public are advised that cholera cases have been recorded in the country including in Matabeleland South Province. The public is urged to observe good hand and food hygiene practices such as the washing of hands with soap after using the toilet and washing hands before consuming food.
“Avoid handshaking. Visit the nearest health centre if you experience symptoms such as severe diarrhoea, vomiting and dehydration. Please be advised and guided accordingly,” reads part of the statement.
In interviews, Bulawayo residents said they have gone for more than a week without running water, a development which puts them at risk of cholera and other water-borne diseases.
Ms Catherine Moyo from Pelandaba West said the community had resorted to fetching water from a nearby unsafe well so that they have access to cooking water.
“We are now getting water from these swampy areas as council is no longer reliable, we have gone for more than seven days without a drop of water coming out from our taps. Unfortunately, we do not have any other sources hence we are now using this swamp so that at least we have water for washing, bathing and cooking,” said Ms Moyo.
“We are not at ease because we know this puts us at risk of cholera which keeps spreading in Zimbabwe and soon we too will have an outbreak at this rate.”
The World Health Organisation last week said heavy flooding and cyclonic events in parts of southern Africa risk fuelling the spread of the disease.
“The persistence of cholera is a manifestation of gaps in water and sanitation infrastructures and services, poor hygiene, shortcomings in surveillance, health systems and workforce to facilitate early detection for a prompt outbreak response, as well as insufficient political commitment to secure the necessary resources to impact changes,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa.–@thamamoe
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