Six (6) people died while almost 7 000 diarrhoeal cases were recorded countrywide in one week last month.
According to the weekly disease surveillance report for the week ended January 22, 2023, released by the Ministry of Health and Childcare on Friday, 6 894 common diarrhoea cases were recorded. It said:
A total of 6 894 common diarrhoea cases and four deaths were reported this week. The deaths were reported from Sally Mugabe Central Hospital (2), Mangwe District (1) and Gwanda District (1).
Of the reported cases, 3 076 were from under the age of five. The provinces with the highest number of cases are Mashonaland East province (1 223) and Manicaland province (1 138).
The cumulative figures are 20 299 cases and six deaths.
Speaking to NewsDay, Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA) president Enock Dongo blamed poor service delivery by local authorities for the diarrhoeal cases. Dongo said:
It has always been the case that during the rainy season, people will be very vulnerable to diarrhoeal diseases.
We are not really surprised especially looking at the lack of supplies of clean water by the local authorities across the country.
People resort to drawing water from wells that are getting contaminated by what is being washed by the rains. People drink that water.
Mangoes also lure houseflies, they are contributing to diarrhoea.