By Nyasha Dube
Health officials have urged artisanal miners in Zvishavane and Mberengwa to receive the oral cholera vaccine to minimize the risk of contracting the disease.
This comes at a time when there is an ongoing national oral cholera vaccination, including in the two mining districts which have been the most affected by the disease outbreak in the Midlands Province, targeting all cholera hotspots.
Artisanal mines are known for their lack of proper sanitation and ablution facilities, thereby putting artisanal miners at high risk of being affected by the cholera outbreak which has affected the whole country.
In an interview with Women’s Weekly Journal, Zvishavane District Health Promotion Officer Rumbidzai Chikwana said artisanal miners have been the hardest to reach during the ward-based vaccination campaign, which started on the 3rd of February and is set to end on the 9th of February in Zvishavane.
“We encourage artisanal miners to take up the vaccine because they are the hardest to reach due to the nature of their operations. Most of the time they are underground and their timetables may not tally with ours,” said Chikwana, emphasizing the importance of reaching this group with health information.
Chikwana added that the vaccine uptake has been commendable, especially by the male populace who always resist or avoid clinical care.
“So far more males have been coming to get vaccinated, which is great because men do not usually seek health care services. This shows that they are starting to understand that the outbreak can affect anyone and everyone,” Chikwana said.
In Mberengwa the exercise started on 29 January and ended on the 3rd of February.
According to Chikwana, Zvishavane received over 79 000 as per the targeted population, adding that they are not targeting the whole district but the most affected wards.
In rural parts, the targeted wards are 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 19, and in urban they are targeting wards 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.
Static health facilities offering vaccination services include Lundi, Dayataya, Chirere, Mtambi, Vugwi, Gudo, ZRP, Mandava, Zvishavane District Hospital, Nectar Care Highlands and Shabani Mine.
“We also have mobile teams who are conducting door-to-door, house-to-house and street-to-street vaccinations in the urban suburbs, as well as in schools. The targeted age groups are one year to 100+.
The vaccine is for everyone, including pregnant and nursing mothers, and persons with chronic illnesses among others, everyone is eligible,” Chikwana said.
She added that the vaccine offers protection from cholera for the next three years, but urged vaccinated residents to continue adhering to preventive hygienic practices such as washing hands with running water, drinking safe water and eating warm food.
According to the latest statistics, Zvishavane has recorded 166 people who have been affected by cholera since November when the first case was reported in the district, and 11 succumbed to the disease. As of today, there are 7 active cases currently receiving care at isolation tents.
