The ManicaPost
Senior Reporter
COMMUNITY sensitisation interventions in hard hit areas across Manicaland have helped to identify the drivers of cholera and successfully mitigated its spread, resulting in reduced deaths over the past weeks.
Government has also put in place measures to identify all cholera cases and institute prompt treatment to bring the disease under control.
The outreaches have enabled communities to access services that are helping to fight the cholera outbreak in Buhera, Chipinge and Mutare, the hardest hit districts in the province.
The meetings are being organised by the Ministry of Health and Child Care and development partners, highlighting the importance of water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in the fight against the disease.
Sensitisation meetings are being mobilised and attended by politicians, chiefs, community members, faith leaders and village health workers.
According to statistics from the Ministry of Health and Child Care’s situation report for October 29, a total of 5 964 suspected cholera cases had been reported, with 1 055 confirmed cases and 5 696 recoveries.
There have been a cumulative 123 suspected cholera deaths and 43 fatalities confirmed.
Acting Manicaland provincial epidemiology and disease control officer, Dr Cephas Fonte said Buhera, which is the epicentre of the outbreak in Manicaland, recorded 38 new cases which are in care, while Chipinge and Mutare rural hand 13 and 14 cases respectively.
Three suspected cases were recorded in Makoni and one in Chimanimani.
Chipinge District Medical Officer (DMO), Dr Ozimore Matekenya told a district Civil Protection Unit (CPU) recent meeting that health personnel were deployed in hotspot areas to urgently address treatment hesitancy by implementing an inclusive community engagement strategy that involves accurate information on the disease, as well as debunking religious and cultural myths toward treatment.
“We have health teams deployed in all the hotspots highlighting the importance of Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in the fight against cholera.
“Our teams are in areas such as Chipangayi, Chibuwe and Checheche, which are recording more cases because people now have information and presenting their cases,” he said.
Manicaland has been recording cases of cholera in rural areas and more recently in some urban areas.
Cholera is highly contagious and occurs in places without safe water and proper sanitation.
It causes serious diarrhoea and vomiting, and without treatment can quickly lead to severe dehydration and even death.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Dr Aspect Maunganidze said the outbreak is now under control.
“Our health systems and services have been mobilised to ensure that cholera is under control. I assure people that the cholera has been contained and our surveillance system is exceptionally effective,” said Dr Maunganidze.
