Remain vigilant, churches warn
CHURCHES have urged people to remain on alert for Covid-19 as re-opening of borders was likely to expose people especially those from the southern parts of the country.
Speaking during a presentation of a donation to the District Development Fund (DDF) quarantine centre which is housed at the DDF training centre in Gwanda on Wednesday, Zimbabwe Christian Alliance (ZCA) executive director Reverend Useni Sibanda said people had to be on the alert especially now that other countries were recording a second wave of the pandemic.
ZCA donated blankets, mattresses, toiletries, detergents, liquid soap, sanitisers, gloves, infrared thermometers, knapsacks, masks, sanitary pads, buckets and water dispensers to quarantine facility.
Rev Sibanda said they first conducted a needs assessment at the quarantine centre.
“We visited the quarantine centre last month to conduct a needs assessment as we wanted to identify areas where we could assist. This is a response to the call by Government for various stakeholders to assist in the fight against Covid19.
“As an organisation we are concerned as a second wave of Covid-19 is upon us.
“What is more concerning is that people seem to have relaxed. This is, however, the time for us to be on high alert.
“As borders are set to open, we will have more people entering the country especially the southern parts of the country which will leave many people exposed. Illegal entry of people through undesignated points is also a cause for concern,” he said.
Rev Sibanda said the ZCA had come in to assist quarantine centres in Matabeleland South, North, Midlands and Bulawayo provinces.
He said the donation made to DDF quarantine centre comprised 60 beds, 35 mattresses, 287 bottles of Vaseline, toothpaste and bath soap, 49 by 5 litres all-purpose cleaner, 20 by 5 litres liquid soap, 10 by 5 litres hand sanitisers, 11 packs of gloves, two infrared thermometers, five knap sacks, 160 masks, 184 packs of sanitary pads, 95 by 20 litre buckets and 10 by 20 litre water dispensers.
Speaking during the handover ceremony Gwanda social development officer Ms Sithandazile Bhebhe said the donation would go a long way in assisting the quarantine centre which was struggling to function due to limited resources.
She said deportees that have been housed at the facility have been exposed to harsh conditions which forced some of them to escape.