Staff Reporter
Treasury has approved US $12 million to curb the spread of Cholera.
Presenting in a Post Cabinet briefing today (yesterday), Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Jenfan Muswere said that Treasury has approved a budget of US$12 million for cholera preparedness.
“In response to the cholera challenges, orders for medicines and commodities have been placed through Natpharm, prioritizing local manufacturer to minimize on lead time. Treasury has since approved a budget of US$12 million for cholera preparedness and response.
“Screening of all travelers and awareness campaigns are ongoing at all points of entry, while health education on cholera prevention and control measures including hygiene promotion is being carried out in the provinces,” said Minister Muswere.
The Minister further highlighted that awareness campaigns including intensified school education would be carried out in all provinces.
“Cabinet has directed as follows; that intensified Risk Communication and Community engagement including involvement of religious and local leadership, intensified school health education on cholera and other diarrheal diseases, and utilization of existing media houses and digital platforms for content dissemination be continued in all provinces especially Chitungwiza and Buhera.
“That there be improved safe water access to communities through rehabilitation of boreholes and drilling of new ones, that public health measures be enforced in all communities reporting cholera cases, including restrictions of gathering in all cholera affected areas and supervision of all burials in all cholera affected areas,” said the minister.
To date, the Cholera outbreak has infected 5 000 people since February and killed more than 100 people according to Government data. Cholera, a water-borne disease caused by ingesting contaminated food or water, often spreads quickly throughout the country because of the poor service delivery being provided by the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) councilors who have been running councils since 2000. The positive step by the Government to inject the USD12 million will go a long way in curbing the spread of cholera.
