Published by the government of Zimbabwe
6 January 2009
Harare — GOVERNMENT today rolls out the national cholera education awareness programme and spells out modalities for the distribution of drugs, equipment and funds received from donors as measures to thwart the deadly disease intensify.
The resources were acquired following the national request for assistance on cholera launched last month and since the receipt of the drugs, equipment and experts, the disease is being tamed.
Various countries have contributed water treatment chemicals, drugs, equipment, money and medical experts to help Zimbabwe battle the epidemic that has so far claimed over 1 600 lives.
Addressing stakeholders in the health sector at a meeting held in Harare yesterday, the Minister of Health and Child Welfare, Dr David Parirenyatwa, said the educational programme was scheduled to run for at least six weeks.
"The rollout programme is expected to start tomorrow (today) with a meeting between Government and selected people who would be informed," Dr Parirenyatwa said.
Under the programme, the Government intends to disseminate information on cholera predisposing factors such as the rainy season, unnecessary travelling, unsupervised funerals, overcrowded institutions and flooding, among others.
Dr Parirenyatwa appealed to health workers, provincial governors, administrators, chiefs, churches and other partners to respond to the outbreak in the same way they responded to the HIV and Aids pandemic.
"The reason why we have engaged in this campaign is that cholera is more severe during the rainy season hence we might have more outbreaks.
"Like what you did with HIV and Aids, we want you to be patrons with cholera through mobilising resources and disseminating information within your areas of designation," Dr Parirenyatwa said.
He commended partners who have donated equipment, drugs, and financial and logistical support in the fight against cholera.
"We want to document all the donated items and audit them to ensure transparency," he said.
As part of the campaign, popular musicians Oliver Mtukudzi, Albert Nyathi, Tanga wekwaSando, Prudence Katomeni-Mbofana, Dudu Manhenga, Willis Wataffi, Pastor G and Sam Mtukudzi have come up with an educational song on cholera under the banner "Artistes for Health".
The song, entitled "Cholera -- Chenjerawo", is meant to assist Government disseminate cholera control messages.
Dr Parirenyatwa officially launched the CD at the same function.
Government and its partners have also designed posters and compiled jingles, which Dr Parirenyatwa said would be displayed in all public places.
Speaking at the same occasion, World Health Organisation Inter Country Support Team co-ordinator Dr Oladapo Walker said as a way forward to a successful campaign, there was urgent need to quickly decentralise the information dissemination process from community to individual level.
He called for the urgent formation of rapid response teams operating close to communities.
"Using already existing structures, rapid response teams would help in facilitating the smooth flow of communication between officials and the community. Communities would also know who to approach when they have a problem," Dr Walker said.
Cholera structures that are already in place are the ministerial taskforce and the National Cholera Command and Control Centre, which cascades down to the district level.
Dr Walker said regular monitoring and evaluation of strategies already on the ground should be strengthened to measure progress in containing the outbreak.
The function was attended by the Minister of State for Policy Implementation, Cde Webster Shamu; Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Deputy Governor Dr Nick Ncube; Secretary for Information and Publicity Cde George Charamba; Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces General Constantine Chiwenga; Deputy Minister of Water Resources and Infrastructural Development Cde Walter Mzembi; Secretary for Health and Child Welfare Dr Edward Mabhiza, governors and other partners.
Read comments. Write your own.
Copyright © 2009 The Herald. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
AGREE WITU TEXAS BOB things should be improving and with Bob gone somewhere shopping it will not change!!!!
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
War "hots" up.....! A misspelled headline?
Typical of the Herald - can't even spell check, we already know they don't fact check!
1700 body bags and Grace is shopping....nice leadership.
i'll bet that Comrade Bobs folks can't afford the body bags they will need before the Cholera epidemic is over. All the Zim's can do is talk..talk...talk. And folks die....die...die....and nothing will change