The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukutikwa
Health Reporter
MANICALAND continues to face a cholera outbreak, with the number of suspected cases recorded so far now standing at 909.
Of those, 319 cases have been confirmed.
The disease, which causes severe dehydration and diarrhoea, has spread across the country and poses a major public health threat.
According to the daily Zimbabwe Situational Report released on Wednesday, Manicaland had recorded 24 cholera related deaths, while eight of those were confirmed cholera deaths.
According to the statistics, the province has recorded more than half of the country’s confirmed cases and deaths.
Manicaland, Harare and Matabeleland South Provinces have contributed 83 percent of the country’s cases to date.
The high number of cases has prompted Government to step up efforts to contain the cholera outbreak that has affected all of the country’s 10 provinces since February 12.
Through the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Government has intensified its multi-sectoral approach response to the outbreak with an intensified focus on water and sanitation.
Speaking during the Post-Cabinet briefing early this week, Information and Publicity and Broadcasting Services Acting Minister, Dr Jenfan Muswere said in light of the continued increase in cholera cases, Cabinet resolved that the Health Ministry, working closely with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, should intensify timely release of funds to facilitate a comprehensive response to cholera.
ln an interview with The Manica Post last week on Saturday, Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Dr John Mangwiro said the cholera outbreak is being fanned by contaminated water sources, including wells and boreholes.
He urged the public to practice good hygiene and seek medical attention when they develop cholera symptoms such as profuse, watery diarrhoea, vomiting, and dehydration.
Deputy Minister Mangwiro said although Manicaland has become a hotspot of the cholera outbreak, its health system has the capacity to reach out to all susceptible communities.
“We are ready to combat cholera. We can deploy material that is required to combat the disease easily,” said Deputy Minister Mangwiro.
He also said Government is providing chlorine powder for water purification to District Health Offices for distribution to health centres, schools and households.
Since Friday last week, the province has recorded 137 cases, the bulk of which were recorded on Monday.
Of the new cases, Buhera has (44), Chipinge (12), Chimanimani (24), Mutare City (nine), Mutare Rural (28), Mutasa (17) and Nyanga (five).
A total of 63 cholera patients were hospitalised in the province- Buhera (35), Chimanimani (eight), Mutare City (two), Mutare Rural (15) and Mutasa (three).
On the brighter side, the province has recorded 826 recoveries.
According to provincial health promotions officer, Ms Agnes Mugumbate, most of the cholera cases in Manicaland are attributed to unhygienic environments at gatherings that include funerals.
Ms Mugumbate advised people to engage Environmental Health Technicians when there is a funeral in their respective communities.
“It has emerged that most cholera cases in Manicaland are associated with gatherings, most of them being funerals. In Mutare District, most of the cholera cases spread from a funeral. This is a very sad development because all that could have been avoided had health workers been engaged to supervise the gathering,” she said.
A cumulative 154 317 suspected cholera cases have been reported on the African continent, with 2 747 deaths, reflecting a case fatality rate of 1.78 percent.
Zimbabwe has so far recorded 2 232 cases, with 2110 recoveries and 15 deaths, reflecting a Case Fatality Rate of 2,3 percent.
