MARTIN MAWAYA
MVUMA-Midlands provincial Medical Director, Dr Marry Muchekeza says health officials have been deployed to contain the spread of cholera in Mvuma following the death of four people while four others are being monitored at home.
There is strong suspicion that the source of the infection is the Healing Centre at Savanna where the index suspected cholera case died.
Those who died are suspected to have contracted the disease when they got in contact with corpses during burial who are members of the Johane Marange Apostolic Sect.
“We have recorded four suspected cholera deaths in Mvuma with two of them now confirmed to have died of the disease.
“We have our rapid response team on the ground, we will also be visiting the area for the second time and what we are aiming at is to make sure we control and contain the disease in two weeks,” she said.
She urged all stakeholders to put their hands on the deck to curb the spread of the deadly water borne disease.
The disease has so far been detected at Central Estates, Savannah and Nyikavanhu areas of Mvuma.
According to the Chirumhanzu situational report in possession of the Midweek Watch “Initial suspected deaths from Central Estates were all females aged between 25 and 30. Another suspected death from Savannah is a girl aged 5. Two confirmed cases are both females aged 24 and 65 years, from Central Estates and Savannah area respectively”.
Nine out of the country’s ten provinces have reported cholera cases, with only Matabeleland North Province still unaffected by the outbreak.
This week cabinet report indicates that Matabeleland South and Manicaland provinces are the worst affected.
Government last month approved a total budget of more than US$24 million for the cholera epidemic preparation and response plan.
