Health Minister, Obadiah Moyo said that the recent cholera outbreak has killed 21 people during a press briefing of an inter-ministerial meeting yesterday.
A headmaster and two students are also among those who died in the cholera outbreak.
“It is getting worse and the number of cases is going up,” Moyo said in a press briefing.
The minister also told journalists that Glen View and Budiriro are the epicentres of the disease, that has 3067 suspected cases, 45 were confirmed by yesterday.
The Minister also blamed vendors, sewer blockages and lack of clean water for cholera and typhoid that that has appeared during Moyo first days office.
Quality raw water has been a challenge in Harare due to contamination in the dam that supplies Harare. Boreholes are also not to be trusted for safe water as sewer and other hazards seep in and pollute underground water according to sources from the Harare City Council (HCC).
Vendors on the streets are blamed for selling unsafe food products that pose danger to the lives of ordinary citizens.
Sewer blockage results in the flowing of raw sewage on Harare streets also causing a health hazard to the people.
Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and unions, commenting on the disease outbreak, said there is a need for Zimbabwean authorities to urgently tackle the cholera outbreak.
Amnesty International Zimbabwe Executive Director, Jessica Pwiti said “The newly elected government of Zimbabwe must learn from its predecessor’s mistakes and take action that stops people dying from preventable diseases. The authorities must invest in proper sanitation and health infrastructure and ensure universal access to health care.”
Centre for Community Development Initiatives in Zimbabwe (CCDIZ) said “It is a shame that in the 21st century Zimbabwe is losing lives through cholera, a disease whose very existence in other developing countries is unheard of. It is in this light that the CCDIZ calls on government and Harare City Council to tackle the scourge to avoid more loss of innocent lives.”
Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) said “The outbreak of cholera and typhoid, which are medieval diseases, is a clear indicator that the Central Government and local authorities have failed to provide better sanitation to the people. There is a serious lax in enforcement of various bylaws and everyone left selling foodstuffs and handling of such without getting clearance from health inspectors.”
Representatives from the HCC at a press briefing said Harare residents must treat water or boil before consumption including that from boreholes.
Health Minister said that there is need to keep the environment clean in order to avoid diseases such as cholera.
Moyo, who quoted John Wesley’s popularly credited proverb, “Cleanliness is next to Godliness,” also said cleanliness starts at a personal level.
The public has also been warned against buying food on unhygienic places.
Besides medication, the Health Ministry said it will be running an educational and awareness campaign.
The Health Minister said the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) will also assist in stopping vending in the epicentres of the disease outbreak to avoid the spread.
ZRP had earlier on issued a statement stating that it will not allow any public gatherings in light of the cholera outbreak.
United Nations International Children Emergency Funds (UNICEF) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) are offering resource towards the fight against cholera and typhoid outbreak in the southern African country.
The private sector including Delta and Econet have also been providing with resources to stop the cholera outbreak as the Ministry states that it is using more expensive drugs of the disease that has become resistant to the traditional cheap priced drugs Zimbabwe that has been using.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa on his Facebook account said “I urge all residents of the affected areas to exercise extra care with their hygiene and follow the instructions of the authorities as we seek to contain and overcome this outbreak. Let me assure you that we are working tirelessly to control the situation, and we hope to communicate progress in due course.”