Ministry issues fresh cholera alert
THE Health and Child Care ministry has issued a fresh cholera alert as the country battles to contain the waterborne disease. In a statement, the ministry urged the public to continue adhering to cholera prevention measures which include practising food hygiene.
“Zimbabweans are encouraged to continue implementing hygienic practices such as the religious washing of food and hands before consumption among other practices, as a way to safeguarding themselves from the spread of the disease,” the statement read.
During Cabinet briefing on Tuesday, the government said the ministry continued to conduct integrated training in case management, surveillance, infection prevention and control in cholera hotspots.
Community Working Group on Health executive director, Itai Rusike said provision of safe water, safe sanitation and good hygienic practices were key in the fight against the disease.
“The cholera vaccine remains a complementary measure and not a replacement to WASH [water, sanitation and hygiene] interventions, and these need to be implemented even as the population receives vaccination,” Rusike said.
“Cholera is eliminated by severing the faecal oral transmission route, that is by ensuring that drinking water and food is free from human faecal matter.”
“Investments in water and sanitation infrastructure should be given high priority. Communities should be put at the centre of the cholera response so that there is greater community participation and community ownership.”
The country is now facing an endemic presence of cholera that has been attributed to WASH issues.
As of March 14, a total of 28 556 cholera cases and 589 deaths had been reported from 62 districts across the 10 provinces.
Over 2 million people have been vaccinated against cholera.