First Lady hails partners in anti-cholera drive First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa greets some of the women awaiting cervical cancer screening at Harare’s Town House yesterday. - (Picture by Innocent Makawa)

Elita Chikwati Senior Reporter
First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa has commended the cooperation between Government and various partners in the fight against cholera. She expressed her gratitude during a luncheon organised by Higherlife where the stakeholders agreed on the need for a comprehensive, multi-sectoral approach that integrates solutions in public works and infrastructure, engineering, environmental clean-up, behavioural change, and disease surveillance and response.

She said it was prudent that there be long-term intervention strategies to eradicate cholera.
“Let me acknowledge the importance of our coming together today as stakeholders for a common good. We have been brought together because of our common desire to meet head-on the scourge of cholera which has brought about the unfortunate and regrettable loss of life in our country, particularly in Harare and Bulawayo. It pains my heart, and I dare say yours too, that this should never have happened.

“I have every reason to believe that had it not been for this commendable cooperation between Government and the organisations represented here today we would be talking of a disaster of greater proportions.

“Not only did we respond in our collective, with a purpose to address the current outbreak but to also find ways and means to bring these circles of outbreaks to an end. For it is possible to eliminate cholera from our midst, with simple behavioural changes on the part of the whole population of Zimbabwe,” she said.

The First Lady said she was consoled by the reaction by all stakeholders to the cholera outbreak soon after President Mnangagwa declared it a state of emergency.

“Everyone came on board and joined hands to contain its spread. Representatives of foreign governments, United Nations organisations and non-governmental organisations, immediately responded with medical supplies, sanitation and clean water. Our Government set up a special ministerial committee under the leadership of Honourable July Moyo to co-ordinate the response to the outbreak.

“Today the situation is under control, thanks to all our efforts. However, it is not the time to rest and relax but to think ahead,” she said.

The First Lady said it was important to educate people about their environment as a complete change of attitudes would bring about quick results.

She expressed appreciation to Higherlife Foundation co-chair Mrs Tsitsi Masiyiwa and her team for taking the lead in the fight against cholera.

“Just as deserving of our thanks are the hundreds of volunteers who came out in response to the outbreak. I was out on ground zero of the outbreak in the townships more to inspire our people to not only respond to this outbreak but to start changing their attitudes to the way they live to eliminate the possibility of its recurrence in future.

“I was pleasantly surprised at the mass turnout of young people in the cleaning and educational exercise we carried out. The general public, too, with their actions and from their comments one got this satisfying feeling that they understood what needed to be done and were prepared to act.

“Allow me to thank all stakeholders and the Zimbabwean people at large for putting politics aside and remain focused on the real need of the moment, the need to save lives now and to prevent outbreaks in future.

“The phrase ‘Think globally, act locally’ holds true of the way we have to react to our situation. Our local actions contribute immensely to the global achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and The Africa We Want and our own Vision 2030 as proclaimed by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa,” she said.

Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo said new cases had significantly declined.
“The main task of educating the people to prevent such outbreaks in future and to eliminate the chances of there ever being one, has been part and parcel of the medical efforts.”

World Health Organisation representative Dr Alex Gasarira said it was unfortunate that lives were lost as a result of cholera.
“It is unfortunate that lives were lost. We are going to continue working with Government in the fight against cholera,” he said.

ZimFund manager Mr Emmanuel Nzabanita said his organisation was currently replacing the pipes in the Central Business District.

“We are pleased with the role the First Lady played in the fight against cholera.
“We have been fighting cholera since 2010 and you recall that in 2008 over 4 000 people died. We decided to set a fund of $145 million to rehabilitate water infrastructure as part of efforts to prevent cholera,” he said.

Higherlife chief executive Dr Kennedy Mubaiwa also expressed appreciation to the First Lady and pledged to continue working to eradicate the disease.

“We will continue working with you until cholera is eradicated,” he said.

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