ZIMBABWEANS travelling to Zambia through Chirundu Border
Post have described as inhumane the cholera screening process introduced by
Zambian authorities at the one-stop-border post that involves making people
take laxatives.
Passengers travelling by bus are reportedly being given
laxatives to induce bowel movement to produce stool that is then tested for
cholera.
Ministry of Health and Child Care officials in Mashonaland
West yesterday indicated that the matter had been reported to the highest
offices.
The Zambian government yesterday announced that the capital
city — Lusaka — had recorded 21 cases of cholera without any fatalities. The testing programme using laxatives has also reportedly
caused congestion at the border.
Mashonaland West provincial medical director Dr Wenceslaus
Nyamayaro confirmed receiving similar reports from officials at Chirundu Border
Post.
“We have received the reports of travellers being screened
at the border post and we have engaged our permanent secretary (Dr Gerald
Gwinji) on the matter,” Dr Nyamayaro said.
“The issue of people being given tablets to trigger bowel
movement is a bit disturbing because we know that we cannot control cholera by
shutting down the border, but to encourage hygiene among our people.”
He said Zambia had a cholera outbreak whose epicentre was
in Lusaka that claimed more than 100 lives and affected over 5 000 people, but
travellers from that country were not subjected to that treatment.
According to sources at Chirundu, the screening involved
people being asked to take the laxative, a doxycycline preventive tablet while
being asked to wash their hands.
“The situation was particularly pathetic on Monday morning
when members of an apostolic sect were asked to take the tablet that caused
them to visit the toilet.
“People lined up intending to relieve themselves at the
same time. This is inhuman.”
No sample tested positive for the disease.
Health and Child Care provincial health promotion officer
Mr George Kambondo said Government had since activated a hotline that can be
used to report any health matters and complaints.
“We are appealing to all the people who may have any health
complaints to call on PMD Mashonaland West Hotline 0771489415,” he said.
Mr Kambondo said there was no reason for Zambian
immigration officials to react in the manner they did as rapid response teams
were on high cholera alert.
“All the health workers at village level and stakeholders
have been sensitised on the cholera outbreak in the province.
“The teams composed of provincial health executives from
the ministry are conducting routine inspections at food outlets while illegal
cooking stations have been closed,” he said.
Mr Kambondo said the Chirundu Local Board had been engaged
to attend to potential hazards that may trigger an outbreak.
Further, he said, Government was reviewing water rationing
programmes in some areas where water was only available at midnight.
Police details are also confiscating fish from vendors
coming from Harare to Chinhoyi and other areas in the province at roadblocks.
A multi-stakeholder taskforce has been set up in Chirundu
to collaborate with Zambian authorities to spearhead cholera prevention
initiatives.
The taskforce comprises Government departments, Chirundu
Local Board and non-governmental organisations operating in the border town.
Local board secretary Mr Wilson Gunhe said clean-up
campaigns were being conducted in the border town among other efforts to
eliminate chances of an outbreak.
“We meet regularly with our Zambian counterparts because of
the high volumes of people that come to the border town.
“We have people coming from as far as the Democratic
Republic of Congo where there is an Ebola outbreak, Tanzania and other
countries in the region. We are always on alert,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Government of Zambia yesterday issued a
statement indicating that Lusaka district had recorded 21 new cases of cholera.
“There are no cholera deaths recorded. All patients are
currently under treatment. Several measures will be undertaken in an effort to
help safeguard lives and prevent further spread of this deadly disease.” Herald
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