The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukutikwa and Tanyaradzwa Mujati
MANICALAND has recorded at least 15 percent of the suspected cholera cases reported in Zimbabwe since the outbreak of the disease last month (February), The Manica Post can reveal.
The province has the highest number of confirmed cholera cases across the country with nine, followed by Matabeleland South which has eight confirmed cases.
The upsurge in cholera cases in the province has resulted in five of Manicaland’s seven districts being declared hotspots by the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
The five districts are Buhera, Chimanimani, Chipinge, Mutare and Mutasa.
This comes at a time when Mutare is grappling with water shortages, resulting in most parts of the city going for days without the precious liquid.
Last weekend alone, Chimanimani District had a single confirmed cholera case and 24 suspected cases.
Mutasa District on Wednesday recorded six new suspected cholera cases, as the province recorded the highest number of confirmed cholera cases in the country.
Manicaland’s cumulative confirmed cases now stand at nine, while the number of suspected cases stand at 31.
Buhera and Chipinge have, however, not reported any suspected or confirmed cases.
According to a Zimbabwe Cholera SitRep report released on Wednesday, 12 people were hospitalised across the country due to cholera, with two hospitalised in Chimanimani and one hospitalised in Mutare district.
The report stated that so far, a cumulative total of 198 suspected cholera cases, one confirmed cholera death, four suspected cholera deaths and 26 laboratory confirmed cases have been recorded nationwide, nine of which are from Manicaland.
In an interview, Manicaland provincial health promotions officer, Mrs Agnes Mugumbate said as of Wednesday, nine of the suspected cholera cases had been confirmed.
She said Buhera, Chimanimani, Chipinge, Mutare and Mutasa were declared hotspots due to their proximity to neighbouring Mozambique where there is a cholera outbreak.
“Due to the porous border with Mozambique, the outbreak was bound to spread to the province. People travel daily to and from Mozambique using many illegal entry points and Forbes Border Post.
“This might explain why we have over the past week been experiencing a spike in suspected as well as confirmed cholera cases in Manicaland,” she said.
Mrs Mugumbate said they have since activated their rapid response and surveillance teams in the respective areas, and sensitised health facilities as well as local communities on the disease.
“We have sensitised our facilities to be on high alert with on-going active surveillance. We are also distributing relevant materials like buckets to the hotspot areas and making sure that locals are well sensitised and protected from the disease. The sensitisation of our health workers, community and village health workers is also ongoing.
“The public is being sensitised to keep safe by making sure that they drink and use safe water, wash their hands often with soap and safe water as well as prepare their food well,” she said.
Mrs Mugumbate added:“So far all reported cases are from locals. We have not recorded any cases of cholera from foreign patients crossing into Manicaland to seek treatment.”
However, in Mutare, acute water shortages have put a dent on the Ministry of Health and Child Care’s awareness campaigns.
The local authority was for the greater part of this week battling to repair a 450mmpipe that burst near Herbert Chitepo (3 Brigade) Barracks in Chikanga since last week.
The burst pipe has affected most suburbs in the city.
Mutare City Council spokesperson, Mr Spren Mutiwi confirmed the water shortages.
“We had a major pipe burst and we have been trying to fix it since last week. However, we finished repairing it on Tuesday and I am sure the water levels are building up in the tanks. Water should be available in most parts of Mutare by the end of this week,” he said.
According to a Zimbabwe Cholera SitRep report: “To date, cases have been reported in eight provinces in the country since the beginning of 2023, with eight cases in the said provinces having no epidemiological link to each other.
“In Zimbabwe, the cholera outbreak started on February 12 at Chao-square Mining Resource Company in Chegutu. The outbreak has since spread into the community with unrelated cases and suspected cases being reported in other provinces,” the report reads in part.
The report also says cases started spiking on March 15 when 31 cases were recorded.
Other declared hotspot districts across the country are Chegutu, Chikomba, Chitungwiza, Chiredzi, Harare, Gokwe North, Marondera, Mazowe, Shamva, Murewa, Mwenezi, Seke and Wedza.
