The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
GOVERNMENT is closely monitoring the Covid-19 situation in schools and expects teachers to play a leading role in curtailing the spreading of the disease among pupils, Health and Child Care Deputy Minister, Dr John Mangwiro, has said.
Since the reopening of schools after a lengthy layoffs due to the pandemic induced lockdown, a number of schools have recorded some Covid-19 cases that have instilled a sense of panic.
In Manicaland, Knowstics Academy and Kriste Mambo High School recorded three and 17 cases of Covid-19 respectively upon the pupils’ return to school.
Manicaland Provincial Medical Director, Dr Simon Nyadundu confirmed the cases at Knowstix Academy and Kriste Mambo.
“We have recorded Covid-19 cases at Kriste Mambo and Knowstix Academy. Kriste Mambo recorded 17 cases, while Knowstics had three,” said Dr Nyadundu.
However, in an interview on the sidelines of his whirlwind tour of health institutions in Manicaland that took him to hospitals in Mutare, Nyanga, Honde Valley and Chimanimani districts, Dr Mangwiro said Government is closely monitoring the Covid-19 situation in schools.
Deputy Minister Mangwiro, who toured Mt Mellary Mission Hospital in Nyanga, Hauna District Hospital in Honde Valley, Mutambara Mission Hospital in Chimanimani and Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital in Mutare said Government do not want to record any death in schools due to Covid-19.
“We have recorded some Covid-19 cases in schools and the figures have been on a steady increase. This is something that we are closely monitoring as Government and I think we are on top of the situation. It is under control.
“Government do not want to record any Covid-19 death among our children in schools. That is something we do not expect at all,” said Dr Mangwiro.
He said teachers are expected to play a leading role in curtailing the spreading of the disease among pupils.
He said basic precautionary regulations such as social distancing, masking up and sanitising should be enforced by teachers religiously.
“We are expecting our teachers to play a pivotal role in curtailing the quick spread of the disease among pupils. As Government, we hope to continue finding ways of driving the message home among teachers that they need to be on guard. They are the ones to inculcate those basic precautionary Covid-19 measures such as masking up, sanitising as well as social distancing. This is something that we sincerely hope teachers will come in and assist,” said Dr Mangwiro.
He applauded Mutambara Mission Hospital for successfully implementing Community Health Strategy meant to decentralise provision health services in the district.
“This is the thrust as we move towards 2030.
‘‘Important services have to be decentralised and made accessible to the people. I really want to comment this institution, its staff and Responsible Authority, the United Methodist Church for their efforts which dovetail into Government’s Vision 2030,” said Dr Mangwiro.
