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Victor Maphosa Correspondent
Mashonaland East Province has activated the Civil Protection Unit (CPU) to contain the spread of cholera, Mashonaland East Provincial Administrator Mr Tavabarira Kutamahufa has said.

He said the province has also activated district and ward CPU committees to ensure everyone is aware of the dos and don’ts in the wake of the deadly disease.

In an interview with The Herald yesterday, Mr Kutamahufa said they have a cocktail of measures in place to combat the epidemic.

“As a province, we have since activated the CPU, which involves different organs in the Government, as we fight the spread of cholera in our province,” Mr Kutamahufa said.

“We have also set committees at district and ward level to ensure everyone is aware of what they need to do to prevent infection and in case they are infected.

“We are doing this to stop the spread of this disease, as you know Mashonaland East Province is close to Harare, especially Marondera town where people commute to and from Harare every minute,” he said.

He said they have also suspended feeding programmes in schools to prevent the spread of cholera.

“Schools in the province have since suspended feeding programme. Most of the fast food outlets were ordered to close while those that are licensed are being allowed to continue operating under strict supervision by health officials,” he                                                                                    said.

Mr Kutamahufa urged people to practise good personal hygiene. He said Marondera Town Council have since started testing borehole water around Marondera and other places with the results expected tomorrow.

A survey carried by The Herald in Marondera revealed that vendors had been removed from the pavements.

Mashonaland East Province recorded six suspected cholera cases, with three cases being reported in Marondera last week.

The three patients who were admitted at Marondera Provincial Hospital were all discharged.