A local lobby group Community Water Alliance (CWA) has reported an outbreak of typhoid in Glen View 8 indicating that 10 people were receiving treatment at a local clinic after being diagnosed of the deadly disease.
In an interview with 263Chat, CWA Spokesperson, Hardlife Mudzingwa said their community monitors had confirmed the outbreak.
“Community Water Alliance ward Committees confirmed that there is a serous typhoid outbreak in Glen View. There is one suspected case of cholera though it is yet confirmed
“10 patients are being attended to right now as we speak.
“City of Harare is part of a 10 year promise to eliminate cholera which is funded by Higher Life Foundation. The first measure they are taking is to upgrade sewer reticulation system. Secondly they want to empower communities. Upgrade is underway and there is a plan to do research particularly targeting Glen View so that they establish why Glen View is mostly affected whilst Mabvuku with no potable water is not affected to the same level as that of Glen View,” said Mudzingwa.
He blasted City of Harare for its reactive approach to the typhoid plight saying the city fathers are failing to address water challenges that causes outbreaks.
“In response to water challenges, we have not seen any concrete measures yet other than just reactive approaches.
“We applaud OXFAM for a quick response to the challenges in Glen View and urge stakeholders to come in and help,” added Mudzingwa.
Efforts to reach City of Harare Mayor, Herbert Gomba for a comment were unfruitful as his number was not reachable at the the time of publishing.
City Health Director Dr Prosper Chonzi told a local publication, The Herald that chances of an outbreak were high because of the environment that led to previous occurrences.
“Chances of typhoid and cholera outbreaks are high because the environment that led to previous outbreaks is still the same. There is still poor sanitation facilities, inconsistent refuse collection and erratic water supplies resulting in residents relying on contaminated wells,” he said.
Typhoid fever is a bacterial disease, caused by Salmonella typhi. Symptoms usually develop 1 to 3 weeks after exposure, and may be mild or severe. They include high fever, malaise, headache, constipation or diarrhea, rose-colored spots on the chest, and an enlarged spleen and liver.
