In a devastating turn of events, four people lost their lives to cholera earlier this month at a religious shrine in Beitbridge, Zimbabwe. The victims, including a pregnant woman, belonged to an apostolic sect and sought help at the shrine after refusing assistance from health officials due to religious beliefs.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) released a cholera situational report on January 13, revealing the distressing incident. The report highlighted that Zimbabwe is currently grappling with a severe cholera outbreak, with a staggering 17,730 suspected cases and 318 suspected cholera-related deaths reported as of Saturday. Among these figures, 2,037 cases and 68 deaths have been laboratory confirmed.
The tragic chain of events began when the pregnant woman complained of a headache and nausea on December 29, mistaking her symptoms for labor pains. Instead of seeking medical attention, she was taken to a religious shrine in Beitbridge’s Mazunga area to seek assistance with delivery. Tragically, while at the shrine, the birth attendant and the custodian of the shrine contracted cholera, along with 12 other family members and neighbors. Two males, including the birth attendant, succumbed to the disease.
The Beitbridge MoHCC rapid response team (RRT) swiftly responded to the outbreak on January 1, conducting contact tracing and providing treatment to symptomatic individuals. Unfortunately, the deceased woman was initially hidden from the RRT by her family members. It was only later that she was identified by other community members. Regrettably, she refused medical attention from the RRT members.
“She was taken to a religious shrine in Beitbridge district in Mazunga area for assistance in delivery. While she was there the birth attendant and custodian of the shrine contracted cholera along with 12 other family members andneighbours. The birth attendant and two males died. The Beitbridge MoHCC rapid response team (RRT) attended to the outbreak on January 1 and carried out contact tracing and treatment of symptomatic contacts found,” read the report.
“The deceased was initially hidden from the RRT by family members and later identified by other community members. The deceased refused medical attention from the RRT members. The family then tried to shift her to another religious shrine in Mberengwa Masase area, however, she died along the way on January 2. Her death was reported to the police and was placed at the Gwanda Provincial Hospital mortuary pending a post mortem.”
Government said the family did not disclose that the deceased was a contact of a confirmed cholera death and on January 9 the body of the deceased was taken to United Bulawayo Hospitals for a post mortem and buried on the same day at Jonclyn Resettlement.
The ministry has recommended continued risk communication and advocacy meetings and engagement of communities with known religious objectors.
Meanwhile, Gwanda district in Matabeleland South has recorded 14 suspected cholera cases.
As of January 12, one person had succumbed to the diarrhoeal disease.
“The district has to date seen a total of 14 cases of cholera, seven confirmed cases and one suspected death. One case tested positive at the Gwanda Provincial [Hospital] casualty department and the second tested positive after admission. Contact tracing was carried out for the cases seen which were linked to each other and coming from the Hlalani Kuhle Housing scheme (Gwanda town),” the report read.
“A total of 10 contacts were identified, six were tested using the Cholera Antigen Rapid diagnostic test kit and four were positive. All the contacts not in hospital care have been placed under self-isolation and are being monitored by the Ministry of Health and Child Care.”
