Staff Reporter
Government has taken decisive action in response to the cholera outbreak that has plagued the nation since February 2023, allocating US$12 million to the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MOHCC).
In a statement yesterday on the state of water, sanitation, and hygiene situation in the country, Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development and also the chair of the national action committee on national Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), Dr. Anxious Masuka articulated that the Government has activated the cholera response planning and has disbursed US$12 million to the Ministry of Health to assist in dealing with the scourge.
“We are currently seized with a cholera outbreak, with 60 districts reporting cases. As of January 21, 2024, recorded suspected cholera cases were 19 649, with 2 261 confirmed cases and 18 899 recoveries. Regrettably, there are 71 confirmed cholera deaths and 359 suspected deaths, with a case fatality rate of 1,81%.
"The Government is not sitting on its laurels; it has activated the cholera response architecture led by the MoHCC and has disbursed a US$12 million war chest. Government is working with development partners in the National Taskforce on Cholera Elimination to operationalize the Cholera Elimination Roadmap (2018–2028),” said the Minister.
The Minister applauded the support rendered by UNOCHA and UNICEF of US$1 million, indicating that it would go a long way in curbing cholera outbreaks in hotspot districts.
“The Government recognises support from UNOCHA and UNICEF of US$1 million, which will support hotspot districts in Manicaland, Masvingo, and Matabeleland South. This funding will address immediate cholera response and El Nino anticipatory planning efforts in water supply, hygiene promotion, and supplies to prevent further cholera outbreaks,” he said.
The Minister indicated that in collaboration with the MoHCC and UNICEF, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education had a back-to-school campaign where production of cholera Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials was being done and disaster risk management teams and school health clubs were being established to effectively mitigate the spread of cholera.
Meanwhile, Government is committed to bringing an end to the cholera outbreak that has afflicted the country since early 2023.
To further this goal, the Government is set to receive a shipment of close to one million cholera vaccines this week.
A nationwide vaccination campaign is scheduled to commence at the end of this month, on January 29. The MOHCC has secured about 2.2 million doses of the oral cholera vaccine (OCV) from the International Coordinating Group (ICG), to be delivered in batches.
