Strict measures, education needed to tame cholera

AS the cholera outbreak persists since February, Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) teams have been urged to involve religious and local leadership in raising awareness in the communities.

In a Cabinet briefing released on Tuesday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Dr Jenfan Muswere revealed that in addition to the RCCE teams, school health education on cholera and other diseases must also be intensified, as well as the utilisation of existing media houses and digital platforms for content dissemination.

“Cabinet has reiterated that intensified RCCE, including involvement of religious and local leadership, needs to be intensified. It also reiterated that there be improved safe water access to communities through rehabilitation of boreholes and drilling of new ones.

“Public health measures need to be enforced in all communities reporting cholera cases, including restrictions of gatherings in all cholera affected areas, and supervision of all burials in all cholera affected areas. Vending also needs to be restricted to designated areas only,” he said.

The Ministry of Health and Child Care has also intensified their interventions in all provinces.

Procured medicines are being delivered to NatPharm, with re-distribution to all provinces and districts in full swing.

Cholera has claimed many lives in the country since February 2023.

According to Zimbabwe Daily Situational Report statistics, there were more than 8 385 suspected cases, 53 confirmed deaths and 153 probable deaths as a result of the disease by Wednesday.

Manicaland Province is one of the most affected areas, with Mutare and Buhera districts being the epicentres of the outbreak during the past three months, with cases rising on a daily basis.

The two districts had recorded 1 004 and 1 447 cumulative suspected cases, as well as 31 and 51 cumulative suspected deaths as of last Thursday, respectively.

Cabinet on Tuesday revealed that Buhera is one of the three areas in the country that recorded the highest number of cholera cases, with 68 cases during the period between November 9 and 15.

Speaking during a RCCE meeting held last week on Friday in Mutare, Manicaland provincial health promotions officer, Mrs Agnes Mugumbate said the escalation of cases in the province is due to superstitions, myths and misconceptions surrounding the disease.

“There is need to sensitise communities about cholera prevention and demystifying some myths they have. We have also realised that there are some superstitions and traditions that are causing the escalation of cholera outbreaks in such areas.

“One of them being the belief that someone suffering from cholera would have been bewitched or cursed. As a result, they refuse to seek medical help or follow hygienic practices. This is not the case because cholera is caused by an infection of the intestine with the Vibrio cholerae bacteria,”she said.

Mrs Mugumbate said the province recently recorded more cases around Chiadzwa and Odzi areas because of the artisanal mining activities taking place there.

She attributed the rapid escalation of cases in the two areas to the superstitious artisanal miners plying their trade there.

One of the common beliefs among artisanal miners is that they should not cover their food containers, including pots or plates, until they finish eating, Mrs Mugumbate said.

“They believe that covering their food means limiting their chances of getting gold in their mining activities. They can leave their food exposed for hours, thereby increasing their risk of contracting cholera. They also do not seek medical assistance quickly when they contract cholera,” said Mrs Mugumbate.

“Most artisanal miners do not have access to clean water,” she said, adding that the situation has been compounded by the lack of proper sanitation facilities in those areas.

She said handshaking at funerals is also spreading cholera.

Some communities also do not believe in burying the dead without bathing and touching the corpses.

“Through our environmental health technicians, we have been sensitising community leaders on how to conduct funerals. We have been telling them that such gatherings spread cholera through hand shaking and the food.

“We are trying to educate them on the importance of seeking treatment, drinking clean water, washing their hands and disposing of waste properly, said Mrs Mugumbate.

Addressing the same meeting, Mutare district health promotions officer, Mrs Sophia Nezandonyi said another belief that should be debunked is that ashes can be used in place of salt and sugar when preparing the salt and sugar solution.

“Some communities believe that they can use ashes instead of salt and sugar. Ashes can only substitute soap when washing and cleaning your hands. It can’t be used in place of salt and sugar,” she said.