adminMidlands Bureau
Government has stepped up efforts to contain the typhoid outbreak in Gweru and has so far seconded more nurses from Kwekwe and Silobela hospitals to assist at typhoid treatment camps that have been established in Mkoba.
Speaking during a typhoid taskforce response meeting in Gweru last week, Midlands Provincial Medical Director Dr Simon Nyadundu said they had so far seconded more nurses from Kwekwe and Silobela hospitals as the burden of typhoid continues to escalate
“We have set up treatment hospitalisation camps at Mkoba Polyclinic and at Mkoba 1 Clinic,” he said. “To boost our staff we had to second nurses from Kwekwe Hospital and Silobela Hospital. From the outlook of the situation we may need to second more staff.”
Dr Nyadundu said Gweru Provincial Hospital was overwhelmed by suspected cases of typhoid with people coming not only from Mkoba, but other suburbs in Gweru.
“The situation is escalating on daily basis as we receive more suspected cases of typhoid,” he said. “Only yesterday, we attended to 41 people with suspected typhoid at Gweru Provincial Hospital. We have so far treated a total of 1 313 cases of suspected typhoid.”
Dr Nyadundu said they had recruited 100 volunteers who were assisting in health education and health promotion in the worst affected areas in Mkoba.
“We are working with 100 volunteers whom we trained on basic health and hygiene and they are spreading messages in all affected areas,” he said.
“We are appealing for funds to assist the volunteers with airtime allowances and basic subsistence as we are currently operating on a zero budget.”
The typhoid taskforce response team has also rebranded 40 commuter omnibuses to spread hygiene messages in Gweru.
Online Reporter