By Elizabeth Nyaguyo
Health Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora has assured the nation together with the visitors coming for the International Conference on AIDS and STIâs in Africa (ICASA) 2023 that they should worry no more as cholera is under control.
In a bid to curb the spread of cholera, the government has managed to put in place some of the measures such as the banning of public gatherings in Mashonaland Central province which has recorded 138 suspected cholera cases, with 20 confirmed deaths
Speaking during a media briefing in Harare the Minster of Health, Dr Mombeshora said recently that the country has been in a huge fight against cholera due to water shortages in some parts of Harare.
âWe have managed to adequately deal with isolated outbreaks of cholera that were reported some months ago.
âLet me say that our surveillance system is exceptionally effective and has picked all cases that have since been treated.
âRight now we are working on curbing some water challenges as well as garbage collection especially in the Central Business District (CBD) and Chitungwiza so our visitors should not worry because even treatment will be there as well,â he said.
Dr Mombeshora added that Zimbabwe is ready to host all the delegates that are coming for ICASA 2023 despite the big number.
âAt our last meeting, I was informed that we are talking about six to eight thousand delegates, and we are ready to host that big number.
âLet me talk about the water situation cabinet has actually put up a team comprised of ministers to look into the issue of water provision in Harare and Chitungwiza and they have already identified areas which needs urgent attention.
âOn load shading, this is just temporary there are some areas where maintenance is taking place in Hwange we discussed it in the cabinet to cut that shortfall before ICASA so that we have enough electricity,” added Dr Mombeshora.
Dr. Mombeshora went on to say that the ICASA budget is not yet ready.
âThe ICASA budget is not yet finalised but what we have initially asked for and what the ministry had said they would give us we were not happy but had meetings where they are said they are going to revise.
âAll we are asking for is to get 15%which was agreed at the Abuja conference in 2001 once we get that I think its fair for us to get that but we are hoping they are going to revise after the presentations we did last week,” he said.
This is not the first time for Zimbabwe to host ICASA but actually the second as evidenced by the 2015 ICASA celebrations which was held at Rainbow Towers Hotel from the 29th of November to the 4th of December 2015.
ICASA celebrations will be held in Harare at Rainbow Towers Hotel on the 4th to the 9th of December 2023.
