The Herald (Zimbabwe)

Govt meets media to tackle topical issues

- Farirai Machivenyi­ka Senior Reporter

THE Government will next Monday roll-out a massive cholera vaccinatio­n programme to prevent the spread of the diarrhoeal disease that has affected more than 20 000 people since its outbreak in February last year.

This was said by Health and Child Care Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora during a Government meets the media programme at the Ministry of Informatio­n, Publicity and Broadcasti­ng Services boardroom in Harare yesterday.

As of Monday, at least 20 121 cases of cholera and suspected cases of the disease had been recorded since the outbreak resulting in the deaths of 447 people.

“Our ministry has successful­ly applied for the allocation of oral cholera vaccines from the internatio­nal coordinati­ng group on vaccine provision.

“The decision to allocate 2,3 million vaccines was made on January 12 this year with the initial 892 286 doses coming into the country by January 28. The vaccinatio­n campaign is expected to start on January 29 in phases starting with the hotspots.

“This is because the doses are not enough to cover the whole country so we will start with the hotspots and roll-out to other areas as we receive more and more vaccines,” Dr Mombeshora said.

The minister said they would only administer a single dose of the vaccine due to high demand with 37 countries on the continent experienci­ng outbreaks of the disease.

“It’s (the distributi­on) now being controlled by the World Health Organisati­on to ensure that all the countries get some otherwise the rich countries will buy out all the vaccines before others get them,” Dr Mombeshora said.

He assured the nation of the safety of the vaccine saying it has been in use for a long time.

The vaccine will be given orally to people aged one year and above and will protect them for at least six months instead of the three years achieved if one takes two doses.

“We will be targeting the hotspot areas otherwise known as prioritise­d areas for multi-sectoral interventi­ons where cases are being recorded countrywid­e and these areas include targeted

districts in Harare, Manicaland, Masvingo, Midlands, Mashonalan­d East and Central.

“The targeted districts include Mutare Rural and Urban, Buhera, Gutu, Mberengwa, Zvishavane, Uzumba Maramba-Pfungwe, Mazowe, Mbire, Mt Darwin, high density suburbs of Kuwadzana, Budiriro, Southlea Park, Glen View and Mbare, Highfield, Glen Norah and Chitungwiz­a,” Dr Mombeshora said.

The Minister said Government had developed a roadmap to eliminate incidents of cholera in the country.

“Zimbabwe has developed a multi-sectoral roadmap (2018-2028) that lays out a clear pathway for cholera control and eliminatio­n in our country.

“This roadmap states the need to revamp water and reticulati­on systems in our cities and provision of water in Harare which has grown and improvemen­t of sanitation facilities in our rural communitie­s. This requires a multi-sectoral approach to eliminate cholera as a public health threat to Zimbabwe,” he said.

Dr Mombeshora said the vaccinatio­n programme was a temporary solution to the problem with investment in provision of clean water and sanitation, eliminatio­n of open defecation and removal of solid waste being the longterm solutions to the problem.

In his remarks, Informatio­n, Publicity and Broadcasti­ng Services Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere said Government had initiated various mechanisms to deal with cholera and solid waste management.

“Central Government under the leadership of President Mnangagwa has managed to implement a number of measures in order to have a practical, achievable waste management plan under the Ministry of Environmen­t and has appointed Dr Anxious Masuka (Minister of Lands, Agricultur­e, Fisheries, Water and Rural Developmen­t) as a committee chair of the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector and also focusing on Harare water,” Dr Muswere said.

He added that Central Government is intervenin­g because of lack of capacity by local authoritie­s.

In his remarks, Dr Masuka, said there are plans to boost the supply of water.

“We intend to increase water supply so the Government has given US$1,6 million for chemicals as a stop-gap measure.

“But we need an additional US$13 million for the upkeep of water works. Two additional water sources are being looked at and then the completion of Kunzvi by 2026-27,” he said.

The opposition has failed to improve the water situation in most urban areas, resulting in the outbreak many waterborne diseases, prompting the Government to intervene.

Through “Operation Chenesa Harare”, Government has been clearing uncollecte­d garbage at various places in the capital until the council comes up with a sustainabl­e solid waste management plan.

 ?? ?? Scan to view video
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 ?? - Picture: Memory Mangombe ?? Health and Child Care Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora (right) addresses the media on the cholera situation while Informatio­n, Publicity and Broadcasti­ng Services Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere (centre) and Lands, Agricultur­e, Water, Fisheries and Rural Developmen­t Minister, Dr Anxious Masuka follow proceeding­s at the Government meets the media programme in Harare yesterday.
- Picture: Memory Mangombe Health and Child Care Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora (right) addresses the media on the cholera situation while Informatio­n, Publicity and Broadcasti­ng Services Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere (centre) and Lands, Agricultur­e, Water, Fisheries and Rural Developmen­t Minister, Dr Anxious Masuka follow proceeding­s at the Government meets the media programme in Harare yesterday.
 ?? - Picture: Joseph Manditswar­a ?? Acting Energy and Power Developmen­t Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere (second from left), Permanent Secretary in the Ministry Dr Gloria Magombo (left), Country Engagement and Partnershi­p, Internatio­nal Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) director Gurbuz Gonul (third from left) and other officials follow proceeding­s during a multi-stakeholde­r consultati­on workshop in Harare yesterday.
- Picture: Joseph Manditswar­a Acting Energy and Power Developmen­t Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere (second from left), Permanent Secretary in the Ministry Dr Gloria Magombo (left), Country Engagement and Partnershi­p, Internatio­nal Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) director Gurbuz Gonul (third from left) and other officials follow proceeding­s during a multi-stakeholde­r consultati­on workshop in Harare yesterday.

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