Health and Child Welfare minister Henry Madzorera has warned of another typhoid outbreak in Harare after cases of the water- borne disease were reported in the dormitory town of Chitungwiza.
Madzorera issued the warning on Thursday in Senate while responding to a question from Mount Darwin Senator Alice Chimbudzi, who sought to know the causes of typhoid outbreaks throughout the country.
There were reports of typhoid cases in Chitungwiza early this week, which have been blamed on poor sanitation.
Madzorera said perennial water and refuse collection challenges that faced Harare and Chitungwiza were behind the outbreaks.
“Harare has just emerged from a big typhoid outbreak and we have indications that we have a potential outbreak in Chitungwiza as we speak,” he said.
“We are all aware of the perennial water challenges faced by Harare City, which is getting far less water than is needed for domestic and industrial use per day.”
The minister said residents had resorted to alternative unsafe sources of water because council supplies were inadequate.
“Unprotected wells have mushroomed in Harare suburbs and the risk of contamination of these is very high,” Madzorera said.
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“This risk is compounded by poor waste management in the city and sewage treatment is inadequate, sewage bursts in residential areas are common.”
He said untreated sewage often found its way into water sources leading to contamination.
“Food vending in such situations provides further conducive environments for typhoid spread,” Madzorera said.
“The solution is a guaranteed adequate supply of safe water, good waste management and proper hygiene practices by the community.
“These are issues that go beyond my ministry and require a well co-ordinated multi-sectoral effort.” A typhoid outbreak early this year left thousands of Harare residents hospitalised.
The outbreak was blamed on the city’s inadquate water supplies and poor hygiene.
