Speaking during the third post cabinet briefing today (yesterday), the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Jenfan Muswere informed the nation that sufficient medication to treat the water borne disease had been distributed across the nation.
“Cabinet reports that medicines and commodities supply has been prepositioned in districts with resource mobilization ongoing from national level as well as through provisional and district structures, and donors have also chipped in. The nation is informed that active surveillance is ongoing at ports of entry.
“Cabinet highlights that dissemination of information is being intensified to curb the spread of Cholera. Furthermore, water quality monitoring of waste disposal and waste management is ongoing in provinces,” said the Minister.
The Minister further promulgated the activities that had been done so far to respond to the surge cases.
“Cabinet advises that the following activities have since been conducted in response to the surge in cases: WASH activities against Cholera in Harare, Gutu, Bikita and Chiredzi districts as sensitized on Cholera in the past week, risk communication and community engagement committees were set-up in four rural provinces of Masvingo, Matebeleland South, Manicaland and Mashonaland Central.
“Additionally twenty risk communication and community engagement campaigns were conducted in Mashonaland East, and distribution of Cholera information, education and communication materials is ongoing,” informed Minister Muswere.
Minister Muswere highlighted that cabinet has approved that traditional and religious leaders be engaged to facilitate public health measures to control Cholera within their communities, and that there be enforcement of laws on burials and city/council by-laws to ensure the public health response to Cholera is effective.
Meanwhile, as at 30 September 2023, Zimbabwe`s cumulative suspected Cholera cases were 4 436 with 4 246 recoveries. Manicaland Province and Harare Province contributed the highest number of Cholera cases in Zimbabwe, having reported 1 934 (43.5%) and 1 627 (36.7%) cumulative Cholera cases respectively by 30 September, 2023.
