Cholera: Hwange closes unlicensed food shops

THe Hwange Local Board has closed unlicensed food outlets as well as those operating from undesignated areas and banned open air worshiping over a cholera scare.

This follows reports of suspected cases being reported in Hwange’s urban centre last week as the water borne disease continues to wreak havoc across the country.

Zimbabwe has been battling a cholera outbreak since February last year when the first case was reported in Chegutu, Mashonaland West.

Since then, the disease has spread across the country with Harare and Manicaland emerging as hotspots.

As of last week, the country had recorded a cumulative total of 18 100 suspected cholera cases, 68 laboratory confirmed deaths as well as 323 suspected cholera deaths.

Hwange Local Board acting town secretary Paulos Mabhureni told southern eye on sunday that the municipality was not taking any chances after suspected cholera cases were recorded in Hwange urban.

Mabhureni said the board had activated some sections of the Public Health Act (Chapter 15:17) to close all unlicensed food preparation outlets and ban open air churches.

“This move is necessitated by a recent cholera outbreak, which has been reported in Hwange urban,” he said.

“We have also banned all open-air church gatherings and all worship activities at premises without ablution facilities.”

Mabhureni said open air churches were a breeding ground for water borne diseases such as cholera as they did not have proper sanitation and ablution facilities.

“We urge members of the public to exercise good hygiene practices, which include thorough washing of hands after using the toilet as well as before handling or preparing food,” he said.

“Desist from buying food, fruits and vegetables from vendors at undesignated vending sites.

“Residents are also advised to seek early treatment for suspected diarrheal illness.”

The United Nations Children’s emergency Fund has since partnered with the Health and Child Care ministry in the fight against cholera.

Cholera is now endemic in Zimbabwe, with the 2008 to 2009 being the worst in the country’s history as it claimed over 4000 lives.

Last week, reports emerged that South Africa’s Limpopo province had detected cholera from two Zimbabweans who had travelled to that country.

Last week, the World Health Organisation (WH) called for increased funding towards cholera response mechanisms.