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Patrick Chitumba Midlands Bureau Chief
ABOUT three Gweru residents succumbed to a suspected diarrhoea outbreak in the past two weeks after consuming contaminated water. Residents affected by the suspected diarrhoea outbreak are in Mkoba 15, 17, 18 and 20 high density suburbs.

The residents in these suburbs face perennial water problems and resort to unprotected water sources and boreholes.
Health institutions in Gweru have for the past two weeks been overwhelmed with a surge in patients with diarrhoea-like symptoms.

Midlands provincial medical director, Dr Simon Nyadundu confirmed the development saying the Ministry of Health and Child Care officials were now doing investigations.

Asked if there have been fatalities as a result of the alleged contaminated water, Dr Nyadundu said: “Yes, we have teams on the ground conducting investigations.

“We are also going back on records from health institutions in Gweru in order to see if there have been water-borne diseases that have been affecting the residents. So once investigations are through we will ascertain the number of people treated and discharged and fatalities. Unofficially residents are saying three people have died.”

Two weeks ago, Gweru provincial hospital medical superintendent Dr Fabian Mashingaidze said his health institution has been treating suspected cases of diarrhoea from patients coming from Mkoba 15, 17, 18 and 20 high density suburbs.

He said they were ruling out typhoid until laboratory investigations being carried out by the officials from the Ministry of Health and Child Care are complete.

“I can confirm that we have received a number of patients who have been treated for diarrhoea symptoms and some have been discharged. Apparently the patients are from one area which has Mkoba 16, 17, 18 and 20 high density suburbs,” he said.

Dr Mashingaidze urged residents to use clean water from protected sources to avoid catching water-borne diseases.
Gweru town clerk, Ms Elizabeth Gwatipedza, confirmed the diarrhoea incidents saying officials from her health department were also on the ground conducting investigations.

She,however, said the source of the outbreak could have been contaminated borehole water.
“Investigations are being carried out, but suspicion is that (cases) could be from a borehole which people are using so we are carrying out water tests for the borehole. If it had been Gweru water, all of us could be affected because even us we drink our water.

“The fact that it’s concentrated in one area means the water from Gwenhoro dam and range booster should be safe I suppose. But tests are going on,” she said.

Residents confirmed to this publication that there have been three funeral wakes in Mkoba 15 and 20 suburbs respectively.
“I’m in village 20 where people are dying after drinking contaminated water from the city council. My child almost died, but thank God I took him to hospital in time. As we speak there are three funerals in Mkoba 20 and a lot of residents are admitted to Gweru Provincial Hospital and other private hospitals,” said Mrs Marian Sibanda from Mkoba 20.