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Andile Tshuma on Health
THE deadliest known cholera epidemic in Zimbabwe swept across the country between August 2008 and June 2009, claiming over 4 000 lives with nearly 98 000 cases recorded countrywide.

The cholera outbreak started in Chitungwiza and spread to the capital, Harare, before fanning across the whole country at an unprecedented level and going on to wreak havoc beyond the country’s borders.

At the beginning of this year, five people from Chegutu succumbed to cholera, but the disease was later contained after intervention from the Ministry of Health and Child Care.

With that sad 2008 chapter still fresh in the minds of many people, the country has once again been hit with a bout of the disease, having so far claimed almost 50 lives with nearly 7 000 cases having been recorded.

The disease is contracted by consuming food or water contaminated with the faecal bacteria called Vibrio cholerae.

Humans are the only relevant reservoir, even though Vibrios can survive for a long time in coastal waters contaminated by human excretion.

Consumption of contaminated water and food results in infection.

Cholera causes acute dehydration as a result of rapid loss of body fluids and that’s why the disease can be deadly within hours if a patient is not treated.

First Lady Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa recently expressed concern over the deaths of people from cholera when the disease is preventable and treatable.

Speaking to journalists soon after visiting one of the cholera treatment camps at Beatrice Road Infectious Disease Hospital in Harare recently, Amai Mnangagwa said it was sad that the spread of the disease was a result of poor hygiene practices.

“Loss of life is not a desirable occurrence especially when what is causing it is totally preventable and treatable. Most of the issues are coming from us; the way we carry ourselves, the way we behave in terms of handling food and water,” said Amai Mnangagwa.

She said people should always ensure that their homes are clean, food they eat is well cooked and their families practice good hygiene standards to curb water and food borne diseases.

The First Lady said while the authorities had a role to play in providing basic amenities especially in densely populated areas such as proper sanitation facilities, clean water and collection of garbage, individuals must play their role.

“I want to encourage people that when they are buying fruits and vegetables, they clean them thoroughly,” she said.

Amid this state of emergency, Zimbabweans need to unite and fight together in order to conquer this epidemic.

Fighting cholera requires effort as a single person cannot keep a clean environment on their own.

Recent efforts by the private sector to join the cholera fight are quite commendable as they demonstrate a team spirit and oneness among Zimbabweans.

Various celebrities including legendary musician Oliver Mtukudzi and Diana Samkange have also joined the fight against cholera, while Government and corporates have been donating money and wares needed in the fight against the disease.

Corporates such as Econet Wireless, OK Zimbabwe and many others are also rallying behind the spirit of fighting in unison.

Recently crowned Miss World Zimbabwe Belinda Potts paid a visit to the Beatrice Infectious Diseases hospital.

Churches have not been left out of the fight as various religious organisations have stepped forward to assist victims of cholera and complement government efforts to mitigate the situation.

While all the money in the world can be donated towards the cholera cause, the onus is on me and you as Zimbabweans to do our part in ensuring that we do not contribute to worsening the situation by practicing bad and unhygienic habits. Let us stop littering. It is appalling to find some mothers dumping soiled diapers in bushes, ladies let us improve.

Dumping refuse in drainage alleys and tranches is not good, it is ill fated as it is bound to catch up with us at one point.

As residents, particularly in urban and peri-urban centres, let us strive to keep our homes clean, our streets clean and our cities clean. Before throwing trash out of the window of a vehicle in motion, ask yourself about the consequences if every motorist or passenger would do the same.

I had the opportunity to interact with various industrialists who were attending the Confederation of Zimbabwean Industries conference which ended in Bulawayo yesterday.

They just could not stop commenting on how clean the city is, how organised the people are and how one can walk freely on the streets without having to manoeuvre narrow paths in-between wares spread out on city pavements by vendors.

While it is understandable that we all need to earn a living, city bylaws must also be respected. At the end of the day, they are meant to protect us after all.
The worst that people can do is keep their homes clean by dumping trash in the environment.

There are municipal refuse trucks that collect garbage on a weekly basis, surely we can keep our trash in our backyards just until the truck comes.

We cannot just go about dumping trash all over.

While it is illegal and can get one fined by the municipality or the Environmental Management Authority, such levels of hypocrisy are just unacceptable.

When a person thinks they are too smart to keep trash but won’t think twice about littering the environment, only to complain that authorities are failing to keep the city clean, spare us please, and do your part first.

If the citizenry is not doing their part to complement the municipality and government, then the fight against cholera rages on without a silver lining or hope for the end of the epidemic glimmering on the horizon.

All efforts are redundant if you and I are not doing our part. – @andile_tshuma