Health

WHO Gives Aid to Ministry of Health and Child Care

WHO Zimbabwe handed over cholera and emergency reproductive health kits. This is to complement and supplement the Ministry of Health and Child Care’s efforts to step up essential emergency preparedness and response.

Zimbabwe reported an outbreak of Cholera on the 19th January and the current cumulative number of cases is 32 (30 suspected and 2 confirmed.) Typhoid fever continues occurring in Harare City. Although the situation seems to be under control, there is need for the country to strengthen preparedness measures.

Cholera has been a challenge in the country for over a decade. There were outbreaks between 2005 – 2009. Between 2010-2011 there was a measles.

Harare is experiencing a typhoid outbreak since October 2017.

Speaking at the handover, Dr Masunda from the Harare City Health Department said typhoid started in the suburb of Mbare but has spread to other suburbs.

In a statement read on his behalf by Dr Portia Manangazira, the Permanent Secretary for Health and Child Care, Major General Dr Gerald Gwinji said

“The support from WHO will go a long way to complement the efforts of the Ministry of Health.”

He said the situation of cholera and typhoid needs strong surveillance and other measures like pre-positioning supplies in affected areas. He also said rapid response teams at district and provincial levels are on high alert for cholera and typhoid cases and surveillance has been intensified to identify and treat all cases.

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