Government will continue implementing short and long-term
measures to prevent the outbreak of cholera and typhoid and is pleased with the
sharp decline in the number of people being admitted in hospitals due to
water-borne diseases, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister
Monica Mutsvangwa has said.
Minister Mutsvangwa said this on Tuesday while briefing
journalists on Cabinet deliberations earlier in the day.
Cholera has so far killed 49 people and infected thousands
others, mainly in Harare since its outbreak on September 6.
“Government continues to carry out short-term measures to
address the current outbreak of cholera and typhoid as well as the long-term
measures to prevent a recurrence of the same epidemics,” she said.
“It is pleasing to note that whilst the outbreak is not yet
over, there is now a sharp decline in the number of cases of patients being
admitted in hospitals due to cholera infections.”
Minister Mutsvangwa said Government was also happy with the
cleanliness now prevailing in cities.
This followed the removal of illegal vendors from the
Harare central business district (CBD) through joint efforts by the Zimbabwe
Republic Police and council.
“Government is also pleased by the rise in improvement in
the cleanliness of our cities and appeals to all our people and the business
fraternity to continue observing general personal hygiene and to prioritise
cleanliness of the environment so as to effectively contain the disease,” she
said.
As part of short-term measures to prevent the recurrence of
cholera, Government has rolled out an oral vaccine programme.
The programme will see over 500 000 Glen View, Budiriro,
Glen Norah and Mbare residents receiving an oral vaccine that protects them
from bacteria causing cholera.
It will later be widened to cover 900 000 people from eight
other suburbs in Harare, two in Chitungwiza and Epworth.
The vaccination programme is only a short term measure to
contain the disease and gives council time to address water and sanitation
infrastructure as a long term solution to preventing cholera outbreaks.
The outbreak of cholera is attributable to failure by
council to replace the old sewer and water network. Herald
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