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Continuing cholera and disease outbreak threat In Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR)
February 03, 2006

The Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) remains concerned over the state of the public service delivery system in the country and its contribution to disease outbreak, cholera in particular. It is essential that there be a more coherent central

Government strategy to ensure that Zimbabweans are accorded the "best attainable state of physical and mental health".

The Government’s knee-jerk response to the cholera outbreak earlier this year continues to be inadequate as a measure to prevent disease outbreak in the medium to long-term future.

The ad hoc arrangement to close down Mbare Msika before alternative arrangements meeting minimum standards of health had been made is deplorable. Vendors were relocated to make-shift "satellite markets" in Belvedere, Dzivarasekwa, Mavbuku, Highfield and Hatcliffe under circumstances in which the necessary infrastructure such as running water and toilets is absent or insufficient to meet the needs of the populations already in place at these locations. This raises the potential for further outbreak of disease rather than addressing the problem.

Attention has been drawn to Mbare Msika as the focus for bringing the outbreak under control, but the problem is much broader. The absence of satisfactory public service provision that predicates the outbreak of disease (intermittent water supplies, lack of refuse collection and burst sewage pipes left unattended) continues to exist countrywide.

Although there was an urgent need to address unacceptable health conditions at Mbare Msika, creating equally filthy, smaller temporary locations for vegetable vending will not eradicate the larger problem but merely transfer it elsewhere.

ZADHR reiterates its prior concerns raised following Operation Murambatsvina, that unplanned relocation measures, rather than preventing the outbreak of epidemic diseases such as cholera, create ideal conditions for the spread of the disease by indefinitely leaving people without access to proper sanitation or supply of clean running water.

We urge the Ministry of Health and municipal authorities to desist from implementing uncoordinated ad hoc measures that may have long-term negative effects. Stakeholders must be consulted and adequate planning be undertaken before further measures are taken to address the problem. Such measures should be part of a sound national policy that meets minimum standards for health.

In addition the public has a right to be fully informed and updated on the current status of disease outbreaks and measures being taken to address these. Lack of adequate information is likely to worsen the situation.

Visit the ZADHR fact sheet

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