THE Heath and Child Care ministry has rolled out cholera awareness campaigns in Matabeleland South which has been identified as a hotspot for the waterborne disease.
The ministry is conducting the awareness programme in partnership with GOAL, an international humanitarian response agency established in Ireland over 40 years ago.
GOAL has been working with vulnerable communities in Zimbabwe since 2002, when it first responded to the country’s food security crisis.
According to the Health ministry’s Gwanda health promotion officer, Siqalisile Masuku, the cholera awareness programme is targeting identified hotspots in the province.
"The campaign will target service/ business centres in hotspot areas in the province," Masuku said.
She said they launched the campaign in Bulilima district on July 27 before spreading it to Gwanda, Matobo, Umzingwane, Insiza and Beitbridge.
Keep Reading
- I will definitely win 2023 elections: Mwonzora
- We will rule forever: ED says
- Measles death toll hits 650
- Govt challenges youths to participate in tourism
"Stakeholders for these campaigns are the ministry of Health and Child Care, Zimbabwe Republic Police and members of the information dissemination committee," Masuku said.
"The campaign has been necessitated by the rise of cholera cases in the province."
After three years with no outbreak, Zimbabwe recorded a cholera outbreak on February 12 this year.
Indications were that the most recent suspected cases were reported in Midlands.
The ministry said the worst affected provinces were Matabeleland South which recorded 186 cases; and Manicaland with 152 cases.
To date, 17 cholera hotspot districts in the country have been severely affected and cases were on the rise.
According to the ministry, a cumulative total of 1649 suspected cholera cases, 423 confirmed cases, 1528 recoveries, 11 confirmed deaths and 33 suspected deaths were recorded.