THE Ministry of Health and Child Care in Midlands has
expressed concern over the reluctance by frontline workers to get tested for
coronavirus despite the risky nature of their work.
The province has received 200 rapid test kits from
Government as part of decentralising Covid-19 testing.
The Government recently announced mandatory testing for
frontline workers particularly health care workers to reduce the risk of
contracting the virus.
In an interview, Midlands Provincial Medical Director Dr
Reginald Mhene said there was a low turnout by frontline workers for Covid-19
testing.
“The challenge we have as a province is that there is a low
turnout of frontline workers who are being tested.
“We recently received 200 test kits from Government so that
we do rapid tests of suspected cases as well as frontline workers.
“The challenge is the workers are reluctant to get tested
in some instances we would test three people a day.
“These are the people who interact with several people on a
daily basis but they do not get tested,” he said.
Dr Mhene also allayed fears of Covid-19 cases in Mberengwa
and Shurugwi following the death of an artisanal miner after suffering from
acute respiratory challenges accompanied by fever and headache.
It is understood that the artisanal miner, who was working
at a mine in Mberengwa, succumbed to Covid-19 like symptoms while five of the
deceased’s colleagues are said to be suffering from similar ailments.
Dr Mhene said the patient tested negative to Covid-19 but
the provincial rapid response team has also tested the deceased’s workmates.
“We received a report that there were people from Mberengwa
who were having symptoms similar to Covid-19.
“One of the patients was in Zvishavane. We made a follow up
to Mapazuli Clinic but unfortunately the person died. We took specimen from the
body for testing and the results came out negative. We also established that
the person was working in Shurugwi also and has not been feeling well for two
months. We are yet to record a single case of Covid-19 in Midlands,” he said. Sunday News
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