According to the Gwanda district cholera situational report
released by the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) on January 13, the
deceased, including the pregnant woman, were apostolic sect members.
Zimbabwe is currently grappling with a severe cholera
outbreak with the Health and Child Care ministry reporting that as of Saturday
the country had recorded 17 730 suspected cases and 318 suspected cholera
deaths. Of these figures 2 037 cases and 68 deaths were laboratory confirmed.
The pregnant woman complained of a headache and nausea on
December 29 and assumed she was having labour pains.
“She was taken to a religious shrine in Beitbridge district
in Mazunga area for assistance in delivery. While she was there the birth
attendant and custodian of the shrine contracted cholera along with 12 other
family members andneighbours. The birth attendant and two males died. The
Beitbridge MoHCC rapid response team (RRT) attended to the outbreak on January
1 and carried out contact tracing and treatment of symptomatic contacts
found," read the report.
"The deceased was initially hidden from the RRT by
family members and later identified by other community members. The deceased
refused medical attention from the RRT members. The family then tried to shift
her to another religious shrine in Mberengwa Masase area, however, she died
along the way on January 2. Her death was reported to the police and was placed
at the Gwanda Provincial Hospital mortuary pending a post mortem."
Government said the family did not disclose that the
deceased was a contact of a confirmed cholera death and on January 9 the body
of the deceased was taken to United Bulawayo Hospitals for a post mortem and
buried on the same day at Jonclyn Resettlement.
The ministry has recommended continued risk communication
and advocacy meetings and engagement of communities with known religious
objectors. Newsday
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