Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association (GRRA) is concerned by the alleged cholera cases that have been reported in Mkoba.
To date, 2 suspected cholera cases have resulted in two deaths, which Gweru City Council (GCC) is yet to confirm through their laboratory.
GCC are taking steps to conduct comprehensive investigations and are currently on ground following up all the contact of all the alleged cases.
GRRA is aware of the appalling conditions of residents such as, overcrowding, poor hygiene and sanitation favorable for a potential cholera and typhoid outbreak.
Cholera is an acute diarrheal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.
Generally, the cholera bacteria spreads in places with poor hygiene, caused by: people who do not use latrines to dispose of excreta, or do not wash their hands with soap or ash after defecation; water or food contaminated with feces containing cholera; drinking unboiled or untreated water from the wells, dams or swamps; eating without washing hands with soap or ash; eating cold food or uncovered food; eating raw food stuffs such as fruits, without washing with clean water; lack of latrines to dispose of excreta.
GRRA would like to advice residents to take following measures: Urgently seek medical attention at any nearest clinic or hospitals, if you or your neighbor is suspect to have cholera; avoid the use of local medicine/ herbs when you develop and form if acute watery diarrhea; avoid close contact with any person suspected to have cholera; wash hands all the time before eating anything; disposing of stool in pit latrines at all times including children’s feces, and avoid open defecation; avoid eating cold food and in places you are not sure of; breastfeed all babies below the age of 2 years.
Source: Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association (GRRA)
