The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
CONFIRMED cholera deaths increased by 28 percent in Manicaland Province over the past week, bringing the total number of deaths to 32.
The deaths had stood at 25 for more than a month.
The number of suspected cholera deaths which had for a month stood at 90 also increased to 91 in the province, according to the Zimbabwe Cholera Situational Report released on Wednesday.
The concerning development and continuous rise has prompted the Ministry of Health and Child Care to take immediate action to prevent the further spreading of the disease.
As a result, Health and Child Care Minister, Dr Douglas Mombeshora this week toured Zvipiripiri area of Mutare District which is one of the disease’s hot spots in Manicaland to assess the situation and assist in solving the challenges on the ground.
Dr Mombeshora’s visit comes at a time when the Ministry of Health and Child Care received has received a huge consignment of cholera response commodities from the World Health Organisation (WHO), among other stakeholders.
The cholera response commodities consist of point of use water chlorination tablets, Intra-Venous fluids and various complete cholera treatment camps, cholera beds, non-food items, mobile toilets, tents and antibiotics.
These commodities will be deployed to all the affected districts and prepositioned to other hot spots yet to report cases making them ready to respond to the outbreak.
Confirmed cholera cases have also increased to 876 from 843 within the week in the province, while suspected cases increased by 310 cases to 4 419. However, cases in-care decreased from 134 last week to 106 this week.
The cholera outbreak has persisted since February this year, and Manicaland remains the most affected province.
Through Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) teams that were deployed in communities for awareness campaigns on cholera, development partners have partnered Government to escalate such programmes.
UNICEF and World Vision, in partnership with the MOHCC have been spearheading cholera prevention programmes in Manicaland’s worst affected districts, Buhera, Mutare Rural and Chimanimani.
The two partners recently called on people to uphold high standards of hygiene recommended by the MOHCC to prevent contracting and spreading the disease.
The public was also urged to report any suspected cases of cholera to their nearest health institution and to seek medical attention if they suspect infection.
“Communities must protect themselves from cholera by preventing its spread. As well as maintaining hygiene at all times, public gatherings must be restricted while all cholera-related funerals will be monitored and supervised by health personnel from the Ministry of Health and Child Care,” reads in part a joint statement the partners recently released.
Cholera is an intestinal disease caused by bacteria called vibrio cholerae often found in contaminated water or food.
Symptoms of cholera include diarrhoea, vomiting and leg cramps.
These can show up 12 hours to five days after consuming contaminated food or water and may lead to rapid dehydration, septic shock and kidney failure.
The disease can kill if left untreated.
Access to clean water, sanitation and hygienic behaviour is critical to prevent and control cholera and other water-borne diseases.
