The ManicaPost
Phillipa Chinhoi-Mukome Post Correspondent
CYCLONE Idai has posed a serious health threat in Chimanimani and Chipinge given concerning realities like poor disposal of human excreta, food sanitation and inadequate facilities.
Some companies like Nyaradzo Funeral Services have contributed mobile toilets while construction of permanent ones takes place.
Pollution in these areas has introduced contaminants into the natural environment that has caused instability, disorder, harm and discomfort to the people and the ecosystem.
Water has been a major resource which has been polluted; hence Government and development agencies are trying by all means to provide clean water to avoid an outbreak of diseases like cholera, typhoid and malaria.
Harmful substances due to the cyclone such as mud, leaves, uprooted trees, toxic waste, and excreta were discharged into the rivers, dams, wells and boreholes.
The Swiss Humanitarian Aid has released US$2 million to help victims of Cyclone Idai in Zimbabwe and other affected nations.
The funding will be used to restore safe drinking water and provide Swiss experts to UN agencies in the three affected countries.
Out of the aid package, US$ 1 million will be used for Swiss Humanitarian Aid’s actions and the other half will be disbursed to various UN agencies responding to the effects of the disaster.
So far, 12 tonnes of relief goods have already been shipped to the affected areas with the first team that responded to the disaster.
The supplies consisted mainly of materials and tools for building shelter.
A new consignment to the region will primarily consist of materials and equipment for restoring drinking water supplies and for cleaning wells.
Switzerland Ambassador to Zimbabwe and Malawi Mr Niculin Jaeger said: “In the aftermath of the cyclone, we have come to terms with the scope and complexity of the challenges facing the governments and people of Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi.”
“Moving forward, Switzerland has made available funding totalling US$2 million and a team of technical experts to the most affected areas.
The team consists mainly of water experts and logisticians from the Swiss Humanitarian Aid unit and will reinforce the team of experts who have been working in Mozambique since 18 March.
The devastating cyclone has also impacted negatively on the health school environment for the children since schools were damaged and most of them washed away by the heavy floods.
These services no longer exist because of the destruction of infrastructure thereby affecting children since the learning conditions have been altered.
The services are designed to ensure access and or referral to primary health care services and also promote and provide optimum sanitary conditions for safe school facilities and environments.
These include safe school buildings with adequate space, good aeration and sufficient light, safe distance from busy roads and safe playgrounds which have less concrete and more grass.
UNDP Zimbabwe announced a $500 000 to aid in the early recovery of Cyclone Idai affected areas in Manicaland.
Announcing the US$500,000 grant, UNDP Zimbabwe resident representative Georges van Montfort said: “This support allows us to work hand-in-hand with the affected communities to rebuild their lives and restore community infrastructure, with particular focus on making it climate proof to help avoid future disasters.
“UNDP will also support with specialist expertise in early recovery, drawing from its global pool of specialists who have experience dealing with disasters of a similar magnitude. The funds were availed through UNDP’s funding window, which, among other objectives, enables coordinated, flexible, and rapid responses to development needs and emergencies”.
The early recovery interventions will be implemented in the eight affected districts, targeting the most vulnerable of the 50,000 households affected in Chimanimani and Chipinge.
Early recovery is an approach that provides critical interventions which lay the foundation for sustainable recovery and a speedy return to long term development.
The impact of the cyclone has also caused stress to those affected.
People in Chimanimani and Chipinge are living with stress because of the situation they are in. They are to live with a variety of demands such as loss of family members, loss of property and shelter, no proper homes, food shortages, illnesses, anxiety, trauma and many others.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care deployed a team to conduct counselling to the survivors.
While stress it is not an illness, it is capable of inducing mental and physical illness and when it gets excessive, it becomes dangerous. Counseling will ensure proper behaviour and by the client.
Government, council health services, army medical services, mission hospitals and local clinics are playing their roles in making sure that community health improves.
They are providing health services which are being coordinated by the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
Women, young girls, pregnant mothers and those disabled have also been affected in a very negative way because their needs are very different from those of men – and include access to proper sanitation like pads, underwear and proper places for child deliveries.
Several organisations, ordinary Zimbabweans and companies are making efforts to help them by offering humanitarian help.
Most land is now covered by boulders and mud, hence agriculture has been affected in these areas, which means food and nutritional security are compromised. Crops which were almost ripe have been covered by mud, broken trees and large stones.
The Government has already taken steps to start relocating people to safe places. President Mnangagwa has also pledged to assist with building materials and make sure proper housing plans and standards are followed to avoid disasters in future.
