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The Government is leaving no stone unturned in its efforts to contain the ravaging cholera outbreak that has been wreaking havoc in both rural and urban areas.
Although considered by many as a Medieval disease, weak healthcare systems have driven cholera in many Southern African countries like Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, prompting the Africa Centre for Diseases Control (Africa CDC) to encourage the production of Oral Cholera Vaccines (OVC) as a preventive measure.
Addressing participants at the National Clean-up Campaign at Warren Park High School in Harare on Friday, Hon Torerayi Moyo, the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education encouraged schools to implement cholera prevention measures when schools open on Tuesday.
“We encourage school administrators, supported by schools’ development committees, to ensure there is running water. Where we experience water shortages, we need to devise some strategies for ensuring that water is there.
“There should be running water at the gate. As learners come to school, they need to wash their hands or perhaps better sanitise them at the gate. At every strategic place in our schools, be it toilets or ablution facilities, there must be running water,” Hon Moyo said.
Hon Douglas Mombeshora, the Minister of Health and Child Care; and Hon Jenfan Muswere, the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting, yesterday, 6 January 2024, held a joint press conference on the national clean-up strategy as a measure to uphold hygiene and contain diseases like cholera and typhoid.
Minister Mombeshora revealed that the government is working round the clock to procure cholera vaccines with technical support from GAVI and the World Health Organisation (WHO).
“There is no Cholera Vaccine that is free on the market and all vaccines are now under the control of WHO and GAVI. We had our final meeting on January 4, 2024 with WHO. After our final meeting and mapping of the districts that are going to be targeted for vaccination, we have been promised that hopefully by Wednesday next week, we will have approvals and then we should be able to start getting the vaccines,” Hon Mombeshora said.
Meanwhile, Jacob Mafume, the Mayor of Harare who bounced back to the helm after the recall of Ian Makone of Citizens Coalition for Change by self-imposed Secretary-General, Sengezo Tshabangu, has reportedly ordered more than 300 workers to return to work immediately as a measure to contain the cholera outbreak that thrives due to Harare’s poor waste management and water drainage systems.