Health Reporter
THE Ministry of Health and Child Care has reported that since the beginning of the cholera outbreak, 19 090 suspected cases of cholera have been recorded to date.
“As at 18 January 2024, Zimbabwe had recorded 19 090 suspected Cholera cases,2 231 confirmed cases, 18 340 recoveries, 71 confirmed deaths and 340 suspected deaths,” read the statement from the ministry.
The U.N.’s Children’s Fund expressed alarm this week about a cholera outbreak in Africa that has spread to at least 10 countries, with the situation in Zambia and Zimbabwe “very serious.”
Dr. Paul Ngwakum, the regional health adviser for UNICEF in East and Southern Africa, said about 200,000 cases have been reported and more than 3,000 lives taken by the disease.
Of the 10 countries he named as having an active outbreak, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Tanzania, Somalia, Zambia and Zimbabwe are in “acute cholera crisis.”
“The key drivers are long-term poor water sanitation and hygiene conditions, exacerbated by changing weather patterns, climate change leading to floods and droughts, end-of-year festivities, inadequate community sensitization [and] late care-seeking behavior for those that are affected,” Ngwakum said.
