Zimbabwe is currently facing a dire situation, with a total of 9,895 suspected cases of cholera, 9,466 recoveries, and 53 confirmed deaths, according to an announcement made by the cabinet.
During a post-cabinet press briefing on Tuesday, the Information Minister, Jenfan Muswere, revealed that the nation had seen nearly 10,000 suspected cases by November 30, 2023.
Harare Metropolitan Province recorded the highest number of cases, with 607 reported during the period of November 24 to November 30, 2023. However, it’s noteworthy that this figure represented a decrease of 98 cases from the previous week. There were also slight decreases in the number of cases in the Mutare Rural and Buhera Districts of Manicaland Province. The case fatality rate decreased to 2.2%.
Muswere credited these declines to prioritized and targeted interventions in the three hotspots, explaining, “The decreases in cases and the case fatality rate are due to prioritized and targeted interventions in the three hotspots.”
In view of the prevailing cholera situation, the cabinet underscored several additional measures being implemented, including intensified school health education on cholera and other diarrheal diseases, improvements in water, sanitation, and hygiene in communities, and continued intensification of risk communication and community engagement. Furthermore, religious and local leadership are being involved in the fight against cholera.
Last month, Harare, the capital city of Zimbabwe, declared a state of emergency in an effort to address the crisis. In order to contain the spread, the government has imposed restrictions in vulnerable areas, limiting funerals to 50 people and prohibiting attendees from shaking hands or serving food at such gatherings.
