adminof Health and Child Welfare and United Nations Children’s Fund.
Speaking at the launch of the WASH programme handover ceremony of clinical equipment worth thousands of dollars yesterday at Seke North Clinic in Chitungwiza, Chitungwiza Central Hospital chief executive officer, Dr Obadiah Moyo, said members of Apostolic and Zionist churches faced great challenges in the area of water and sanitation.
“The members hold gatherings and each draws anything from 200 to 30 000 people,” he said.
“About 80 percent of these are women and children. These gatherings usually take place in areas that do not have access to clean water and toilets.
“The water they buy sometimes carry diseases with nearby bushes being used as toilets.
“This results in the outbreak of diarrhoea associated with typhoid and cholera, which the Ministry of Health would like to see an end to.”
Dr Moyo said that the programme was going to contribute greatly to the national goals for health and access to water.
Each province is going to receive at least 10 000 litre water tank, 400 jerry cans, 20 tap stands among other equipment.
“Firstly, the deadly cholera outbreak that ravaged our nation in 2008 was a wake-up call that we could not continue to do business as usual as far as access to clean water, sanitary facilities and hygiene were concerned,” said Dr Moyo.
“Everyone had to play their part including apostolic groups to ensure Zimbabwe never experiences an outbreak of the 2008 proportions.”
Union for the Development of Churches in Zimbabwe, Reverend Edson Tsvakai, applauded the ministry and Unicef’s efforts to help them curb some of their problems.
“We would like to applaud those who came to our rescue by providing us with these equipment,” he said.
“We hope that the gesture goes a long way in our effort to reduce maternity health for all apostolic churches.”
Online Reporter