ZIMBABWE’s human rights lawyers and doctors have threatened
to take legal action to force government to expeditiously disseminate
information relating to suspected cases of coronavirus in the country amid
speculative reports that a 47-year-old Chinese woman who died on her way to
Wilkins Hospital in Harare on Friday had succumbed to the killer disease.
The Chinese woman had exhibited symptoms related to the
deadly Covid-19 on Friday, but government in a brief statement dismissed the
report, saying tests carried out on her indicated that she was negative.
Covid-19 has so far killed over 3 600 people globally,
while more than 108 000 have been infected.
On March 4, the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR)
wrote to Health minister Obadiah Moyo demanding him to give regular updates
about the
disease.
“Given the extensive human and air traffic between Zimbabwe
and our neighbours, China and other countries, where the virus has been
detected, we are of the considered view that Zimbabwe is under considerable
threat,” human rights lawyer Godfrey Mupanga wrote.
Three cases of Covid-19 have been detected in South Africa,
where millions of Zimbabweans are based as economic refugees.
“It cannot be denied by any right-thinking person that in
recent times, our public health services have seriously deteriorated. Recently,
there has been information in the media suggesting that a case of the
coronavirus has been seen at Wilkins Hospital in Harare. That information does
not seem to have been publicly confirmed or refuted by the responsible authority,
which is your ministry,” ZLHR said.
“In view of the obvious exposure of the country to the
virus and the seriously compromised public health services, we are surprised
that even the home page of the ministry’s website has nothing whatsoever on the
coronavirus. We are both appalled and very concerned at the appearance of
indifference to the real threat of this deadly virus.”
Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights
spokesperson Norman Matara said government should appoint a competent health
professional to act as spokesperson on the matter, instead of leaving such to
propagandists.
“At the moment, we have no information suggesting that
those who passed away after having been investigated for possible coronavirus
succumbed to Covid-19. However, we urge the health authorities to err on the
side of caution, trace their contacts and investigate if they are not
infected,” Matara said.
“We advise the ministry to appoint a competent health
professional to act as the spokesperson on this matter,” he said, adding that
the spokesperson should be competent enough to dispel rumours, allay fears and
provide accurate medical facts on the disease.
Former Health minister Henry Madzorera said the manner
government was handling the matter was disturbing and exhibiting lack of
seriousness.
“If the government does not tell us the whole truth and we
actually have cases of positive tests of coronavirus in the country that they
have not told us as a population, then we are in big trouble,” he said.
“We are worried about the measures we are taking in terms
of quarantining people (and) who need to be quarantined. People who are coming
from areas with coronavirus, or who have passed through there, they need to be
properly quarantined. You can’t just say a person must quarantine himself or
herself voluntarily. I had people from China at my house and I said, but you
are supposed to be in quarantine, what are you doing here? It is something I
encountered first-hand that there is no quarantine going on in people’s houses.
People are coming from China and are visiting their friends and relatives
everywhere.
“I am not happy with our preparedness. We have a government
that tells us lies. We know the doctors were on a go-slow and we know that some
of the young doctors are leaving the country. Our health delivery system in
terms of human resource is very thin on the ground. Healthcare workers are
demotivated and we don’t have the correct protective equipment in the correct
places, so if we have a case, it is going to be a disaster.”
Information permanent secretary Ndavaningi Mangwana was not
picking calls, but was active on micro-blogging site Twitter where he
vehemently rubbished all claims that the country was in danger of Covid-19.
“The person presented with shortness of breath. There are
many complications associated with that condition such as asthma, COPD [chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease] among others.
Shortness of breath is a symptom that’s not just coming now
because there is coronavirus. It’s been there for time immemorial,” he said,
attracting a public backlash from people who felt government was being
“reckless” in its handling of the epidemic.
Meanwhile, an emergency meeting of all Sadc health
ministers will be convened today in Tanzania to discuss and agree on relevant
actions to harmonise and co-ordinate regional preparedness, readiness and
response to the coronavirus outbreak. Newsday
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