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Nqobile Tshili, [email protected]

THE Treasury has approved a US$12 million budget to tackle the cholera outbreak in affected parts of the country including buying medicine amid calls to increase investment in water and sanitation infrastructure.

The country recorded a cholera outbreak early this year and to date, more than 5 000 cases have been reported.

More than 140 people are suspected to have died from the water-borne disease, which has spread across 43 districts countrywide, mainly in the northern parts of the country with a few cases being recorded in Gwanda and Beitbridge.

In a post-Cabinet media briefing on Tuesday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Dr Jenfan Muswere, said the Government continues to channel more resources towards the management of the water-borne disease. 

“In response to the cholera challenges, orders for medicines and commodities have been placed through Natpharm, prioritising local manufacturers to minimise on lead time. Treasury has since approved a budget of US$12 million for cholera preparedness and response,” he said.

Dr Muswere said the Government was screening all travellers and is conducting awareness campaigns at the points of entry while health education on cholera prevention and control measures including hygiene promotion is being carried out in the provinces. 

He said Cabinet directed the intensification of risk communication and community engagement targeting largely religious and local leadership.

Government has also increased cholera sensitization initiatives targeting schools and hotspots such as Chitungwiza and Buhera.

To effectively address the cholera challenge, the minister said the Government was seized with rehabilitating and drilling boreholes to guarantee safe water.

He urged enforcement of all public health measures in all communities affected by cholera cases including restrictions on gatherings even at funerals.

Community Working Group on Health executive director Mr Itai Rusike said there is a need for increased funding for water and sanitation issues. He said communities need to be engaged as part of the measures to address cholera.

“The bottom line is that water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) is the key intervention to long-term cholera elimination hence the need to invest in water and sanitation infrastructure,” he said. -@nqotshili