Five cholera cases recorded in Chingwizi

via Five cholera cases recorded in Chingwizi – NewZimbawe 14 April 2015

AT least five cholera cases have been recorded in Chingwizi area where over 3000 families displaced by flooding last year along the Tokwe-Mukosi dam basin are staying.

An official from the ministry of health in Masvingo told Newzimbabwe.com that there were strong fears that more people could be affected as there are no proper sanitary facilities to cater for the flood victims.

“We have recorded five cases of cholera at Chingwizi and laboratory tests are still being carried out on three more cases,” said a healthy official who refused to be named since he is not allowed to speak to the press.

“Masvingo province has so far recorded over 11 cases of cholera but in most cases those affected have since been treated and discharged,” added the official.

“The outbreak was first recorded at Chizvirizvi resettlement scheme; patients were treated and discharged and we are happy that no one has died of the disease so far,” said the official.

Contacted for comment Masvingo provincial medical director Robert Mudyiradima confirmed the outbreak of the disease at Chingwizi but said it was too early to panic.

“We are currently conducting tests on some of the affected people from Chingwizi and it might be just too early to say that we really have a problem,” said Mudyiradima.

“The reason why we have such problems at Chingwizi is because there are no proper sanitary facilities there,” said Mudyiradima.

The outbreak comes at a time when the government has conceded that Chingiwizi is inhabitable with Masvingo provincial affairs minister Shuvai Mahofa describing the area as “Gehena of Zimbabwe”.

Mahofa said it had been a challenge to deal with the Chingwizi issue since she assumed office and admitted that the area is virtually inhabitable.

She said the flood victims would be relocated again to Chiumburu area while others would be resettled along the Tokwe-Mutirikwi farming area.

However the villagers are resisting relocation for various reasons including lack of compensation.