Deputy Minister of Health and Child Welfare Douglas Mombeshora on Wednesday told Parliament the current erratic water supplies experienced in most urban centres could cause fresh outbreaks of diseases such as cholera.
Mombeshora’s remarks were in response to Shurugwi South MP Anastancia Ndhlovu who quizzed him on the government’s state of preparedness for such outbreaks.
“Currently, we do not have an outbreak of cholera, but we have cases that were detected in Chiredzi and the government had a reaction team in place, stationed at Parirenyatwa Hospital.
“We have since moved it to our headquarters at Kaguvi Building and when cases are reported, we respond immediately,” Mombeshora said.
He also confirmed that some major referral hospitals were running with a few or no doctors due to the braindrain which started a decade ago when the country’s economy nosedived.
