Government has declared the current cholera outbreak that has resulted in the death of 16 people while over 2000 cases were reported, a national disaster.
Addressing the media after touring Beatrice Road Infectious Disease Hospital in Harare, Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr Obadiah Moyo said the decision to declare a emergency was to allow government to contain the outbreak and stop further loss of lives.
“We are declaring an emergency for Harare. This will enable us to contain cholera, typhoid and whatever is going on.
“We don’t want any further deaths,” said Moyo.
Cholera and typhoid which have been reported in Gweru, Kwekwe and other towns with Moyo attributing the outbreak to selling of meat and fish by vendors in the affected suburbs of Harare which includes, Glen View and Budiriro.
Moyo said the government had suspended classes at some schools in two suburbs at the epicentre of the outbreak and had also asked for help from the United Nations agencies and private companies to supply portable water.
