GOVERNMENT has been accused of bungling and not conducting
enough tests to combat the spread of the coronavirus, which has killed three
people in Zimbabwe, with doctors demanding an audit of circumstances that led
to the death of a 79-year-old Bulawayo man on Saturday.
The third person, a 50-year-old man, who had been reported
as the ninth patient, died yesterday at Wilkins Hospital, in Harare.
In a statement, the Health ministry said the man started
exhibiting mild symptoms 11 days after his return from the United Kingdom.
On April 2, he was diagnosed of COVID-19 with an underlying
condition and was admitted into Wilkins on April 7 after his condition
deteriorated, leading to his death yesterday.
Reacting to the circumstances leading to the second
coronavirus death after the victim was exposed in March, the doctors said
government was not working towards mass testing to combat the fast-spreading
virus.
There are fears Zimbabwe could be in worse situation than
that being acknowledged by authorities.
he Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR)
has demanded an audit on circumstances leading to the man’s death and also want
Health minister Obadiah Moyo to explain what he meant when he said the country
was ready to deal with the virus when the situation on the ground was proving
to be contrary.
“It took five days (from April 2 to April 7) to get the
result of COVID-19, a period which is rather too long,” the doctors said in a
statement.
“The absence of diagnostic facilities of COVID-19 brings to
question the state of preparedness of centres outside Harare. What is the
government doing to improve the turnaround time for tests?” the doctors
quizzed.
The doctors demanded answers on whether the institution
that treated the man earlier was an infectious disease hospital or a COVID-19
designated facility, adding many health workers could have been exposed as they
lacked personal protective equipment.
They also questioned why the now-deceased was not forced
into self-isolation, tested and managed as a suspected case immediately.
The Bulawayo man, according to the Health and Child Care
ministry, initially presented to his doctor on March 23 with a history of a
cough, sore throat and fever and was put on oral antibiotic treatment.
When he did not improve, he presented himself to a local
hospital on April 2 and was admitted after presenting, at that time, with a
cough, difficulty in breathing, sore throat and a fever.
The patient died while awaiting results and government only
announced his death on Tuesday.
Opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa described the ongoing
21-day national lockdown without mass testing for the virus an inadequate
measure to slow down the COVID-19 epidemic.
“A lockdown without testing is not helpful,” Chamisa told
NewsDay yesterday. “The purpose of a lockdown is to contain the spread of the
disease and break the chain of transmission, but in our situation, it is just
like forcing people into a prison. We really need a different approach and it
is a wake-up call. The ostrich is notorious for burying its head in the sand.”
Former Health minister Henry Madzorera said it was worrying
that not enough people were being tested and accused government of bungling the
process.
“That is what we have been saying, that we are not testing
enough,” Madzorera said.
“Right now, we have very few suspects, we must test all of
them.
Government should aim at testing at least 200 people a day
and that will cover everyone because we don’t know the prevalence now of the
infection.”
He said Zimbabwe was sitting on a time bomb by not
embarking on massive testing, presenting an opportunity for the virus to
spread.
“We hear this one ended up being buried without adequate
monitoring as people did not know what had killed him. Imagine all the mourners
who were there, nobody knew. It was probably not a supervised burial, so that
is our cry to say let them test more,” he said.
“If they don’t have test kits let them say so and as a
nation, we put our heads together and see what we can do to get more tests.
Contact tracing is not happening at all. They tell us lies
that they have tested 30 people and all, but what do you do when you test
them?”
ZADHR secretary Norman Matara said the development
confirmed what the doctors had always been saying.
“The ministry cannot continue using the criteria of people
who would have travelled or who have come from a risky country, symptoms or
contacts. Those things don’t work now,” Matara said, adding there was need for
mass testing.
Meanwhile, there was panic at Chiredzi General Hospital
yesterday as nurses refused to handle the body of a 30-year-old Mkwasine
Estates woman suspected to have succumbed to COVID-19.
The woman reportedly arrived at the health institution with
respiratory problems.
Chiredzi district medical officer Brian Dhlandlara
confirmed the panic, but said no tests had been done to conclude it was
coronavirus.
“Yes, I can confirm there is so much panic at the hospital,
but it has not been confirmed that it’s COVID-19. The tests have not been
done,” he said.
“It can only be confirmed when samples are taken, tests
done, and then the official position will be given. At the moment, it’s just
speculation. These days, if people see anyone coughing, they conclude it’s
coronavirus.”
Chiredzi district development co-ordinator Lovemore
Chisema, who is the chairperson of the local COVID-19 taskforce, said: “It is
true, and it is happening. Get more details from the DMO. Whatever he is saying
is what’s on the ground.
“We, however, requested that samples be collected for
testing so that we are clear of what we will be dealing with. Until then, we
will treat this case with extreme care.” Newsday
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