Mercy Corps Zimbabwe has said it is working to address the cholera outbreak in 16 wards in Buhera District by rehabilitating boreholes and improving communal water points.

Development Diaries reports that Zimbabwe has been struggling to contain the spread of the cholera outbreak, which has led to more than 100 deaths and 5,000 people infected since February, according to government estimates.

In Manicaland, many people have to use crowded water facilities, while others rely on unsafe wells and rivers for drinking water, putting them at further risk.

The organisation raised concerns over a worrying spike in cholera cases in the country, particularly among women and children.

It is understood that all ten provinces have seen an increase in suspected and confirmed cholera cases, which have extended to 43 districts, including Harare, the nation’s capital.

‘Despite a significant decline in cases from July to August, we now witness a worrying spike of cholera cases, particularly among women and children’, Mercy Corps Country Director for Zimbabwe, Mildred Makore, said in a statement to Development Diaries.

‘In a challenging economic environment marked by high inflation, failure to promptly contain the outbreak poses significant risks due to poor sanitation and limited access to clean water, increasing the infection risk’.

The organisation further called on donors to increase their financial support to stop the spread, save lives, and prevent a repeat of the catastrophic epidemic the country witnessed in 2008.

Photo source: WHO