The Ministry of Health and Child Care, Dr David Parirenyatwa has allayed fears of Cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe following the water borne disease’s outbreak in Lusaka, Zambia.
Addressing journalists in Harare on Friday, Parirenyatwa said the Ministry has deployed teams in Chirundu,Victoria Falls, Kariba and Kanyemba for awareness and screening purposes.
“We have put at our borders, our health authorities and they are very alert to look out for such cases.
“Our entire agency force of high preparedness has been put on alert, so far there is no cholera in Zimbabwe but we are just saying let’s be alert because Zambia and Malawi have cholera and they are both our neighbors,” said Parirenyatwa.
In a statement posted on the Ministry’s Facebook page, Health and Child Care Permanent Secretary , Dr Gerald Gwinji stated that they have activated their response teams who are on standby in case of emergency.
He said the high movement between Zimbabwe and Zambia forces the country to be on high alert.
“We have standing preparedness plans, now that there is a threat following an outbreak in Zambia, we are ready to put them into action if need be,” he said.
Zambia is struggling to contain a cholera outbreak that has caused an estimated 65 deaths across the country since October 2017.
As a mitigation measure, Gwinji advised the public to avoid unnecessary traveling to Lusaka.
“We are not saying people should not travel to Zambia but we are encouraging those who do not have pressing issues to postpone, avoid traveling or at least be safe and practice good hygiene,” he added.
Speaking on the awareness campaign, Deputy Director Epidemiology and Disease Control (EDC)/ Communicable diseases Dr Isaac Phiri, said a rigorous campaign strategy was in place as they are not taking chances.
“We are making sure that buses leaving Zimbabwe have stickers with information on preventing cholera, what to do when one has the signs and symptoms and good hygiene. We have also availed these materials at the border posts and bus terminals like Roadport,” he said.
The EDC department will travel to border areas, Chirundu, Kanyemba, Kariba and Victoria Falls for supportive monitoring visits and to spread the awareness to the people.
