DIARRHOEA OUTBREAK IN BYO AS WATER SHORTAGE BITES newsdzeZimbabweNewsdzeZimbabwe

DIARRHOEA OUTBREAK IN BYO AS WATER SHORTAGE BITES newsdzeZimbabweNewsdzeZimbabwe

Bulawayo residents have been urged to be extremely vigilant and adhere to strict hygiene standards after reports of an outbreak of diarrhea linked to water shortages, with the suburb of Cowdray Park being the worst affected.

The city is on a tight water release schedule, which recently saw some suburbs go without water for almost three weeks as the local authority faces challenges of pumping water and depleting levels at key supply dams.

Some residents have resorted to collecting water from shallow, unsanitary wells in swampy areas, while others are forced to sleep in long lines at collective wells that have been dug at strategic points.

Bulawayo Director of Health Services, Dr Edwin Mzingwane, confirmed that among the cases recorded at council clinics, the Cowdray Park suburb had the highest prevalence of diarrhoea.

“We have received reports of cases of diarrhea in our clinics, and so far the Cowdray Park area has been the worst affected. We continue to raise awareness and urge residents to report to health institutions for immediate medical attention,” said Dr Mzingwane.

He said that the council is working hard to ensure the provision of water to residents despite pumping challenges due to low dam levels due to the El Niño climate phenomenon, which has strained flows.

Dr Mzingwane said residents should be vigilant and practice good hygiene, which includes avoiding handshakes, washing hands and eating cooked food from reliable sources.

He said: “Washing hands with soap and water before handling food and drink, and keeping utensils clean and storing them in clean places, remains the basic message for residents.”

“We have noticed with concern that residents like gatherings such as funerals, church gatherings, etc. In light of the dripping water situation, when they sleep, it creates a water crisis as more water is needed for bathing, drinking and cleaning,” Dr Mzingwane said.

“They should also heat food well before eating it; keep water in clean, covered containers, keep the environment clean, and refrain from open defecation and littering.

“We also encourage them to refrain from using unsafe alternative water sources and to seek medical care early, in case of any illness.”

Residents’ protests over water shortages prompted the Council to appeal to the government to declare the situation a state of disaster to enable easy harnessing of funding from partners to fund emergency interventions.

According to the council, urgent rehabilitation of boreholes in the Nyamandlovu aquifer, drilling of more boreholes across the city, and urgent construction of the Glass Dam in the Insiza area are potential immediate solutions. This would require an estimated US$14 million, which the local authority does not have.

The proposals have been submitted for urgent consideration by the government, which has already responded by repairing some damaged wells in Nyamandlovu with the aim of increasing the volumes pumped into the city.

The diarrhea outbreak comes at a time when the country is battling cholera, with 128 new suspected cases recorded on March 4, bringing the total suspected cases in the country to 27,182. The first cholera outbreak was recorded in February last year.

Of the 128 new suspected cases reported on Monday, 46 were from Mashonaland Central while 38 were from Harare. Eight suspected cases were from Chitungwiza, four from Manicaland, and another eight from Mashonaland East.

Mashonaland West recorded 13 cases, Masvingo had nine cases and two were from the Midlands region. So far, Zimbabwe has done just that

26,482 recoveries and 71 confirmed deaths.

In a post-Cabinet media briefing yesterday, the government said that from February 21 to 27, 961 new suspected cases of cholera were reported, compared to 1,025 cases reported the previous week, reflecting a seven percent decrease.

“Cholera cases mainly stem from unsupervised religious gatherings and funerals, and mobile artisanal miners residing in compounds with poor water and sanitation facilities, and poor hand hygiene practices.” “Frequent explosions of sewerage systems in urban areas,” said Dr. Genevan Mossoire, Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services.

“However, the marked decline in the number of cases is due to higher level of community awareness, improved case management through establishment of oral rehydration points and cholera treatment camps and the impact of the vaccination programme.”

In response to the cholera challenges, the Minister said more community health workers have been deployed to conduct door-to-door health education, administer oral rehydration solutions in communities, and promote good hygiene practices. In order to sustain the rapid gains, he said the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare will continue to monitor and supervise religious gatherings and funerals, as well as intensify risk communication and community engagement.

Meanwhile, Dr Musoire said Cabinet had authorized the decommissioning of cholera treatment centers in areas where cases had been reduced to zero, the redistribution of equipment and supplies to emerging hotspots, and the expansion of vaccination in Harare to include other hotspots within the suburbs that were not targeted in Start recording events




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