State owned mobile network operator NetOne yesterday joined the fight against cholera with a donation of one million litres of clean water to the Budiriro community.
Budiriro together with Glen View are the epicentres of the epidemic cholera outbreak that has so far claimed 45 lives from the more than 8000 reported cases due to the poor provision of basic social amenities such as clean water and sanitation in the area.
NetOne Chief Commercial Officer Brian Mutandiro said their mission was to transform lives and develop communities.
“So it is very normal for us to respond to the outbreak in Budiriro and Mbare because it is our mandate to give back to our precious subscribers,” he said.
“NetOne committed to supplying One Million litres of clean water to areas affected by the Cholera outbreak in Harare. In the process we realized an acute shortage of water storage tanks. As part of our community initiative to supply clean water, we have purchased six water tanks with a capacity of 10000 litres, already installed in Budiriro” – added Mutandiro
NetOne staff and members of the media tour a site in Budiriro 1 where the mobile network operator has erected a 1000 litre water tank to provide clean water for the surrounding residents.
Through close engagement with the Ministry of Health and Child Care, NetOne has identifies six areas in Budiriro and Mbare where they are currently setting up water storage tanks and these includes Budiriro 5 Satelite Clinic, Budiriro 1 Primary School, St Faiths Anglican Budiriro 2, Mbare – Matapi Police, Assemblies of God Budiriro 5B and Budiriro 2 Secondary School.
NetOne Marketing Executive, Dr. Eldrette Shereni said the donated tanks will be kept by schools and churches for security and ease of access to clean water by the community.
“The tanks have been donated to the community and will be in the custody of the schools and the churches where they have been installed for security and ease of access to clean water by the communities,” said Shereni.
NetOne will also be be donating water guard, carrying out awareness campaigns in the communities through road shows in Glen View and Budiriro, issuing SMS alerts to create awareness about Cholera and how to prevent it and channeling one cent towards the cholera fight for every SMS send by the operator’s customers” – added Shereni.
