After 17 months, Zimbabwe has declared an end to the cholera outbreak that started in February 2023 and affected all 10 provinces.
According to the ministry of health, the cholera outbreak, first reported in February 2023, has claimed the lives of at least 87 individuals.
The last reported cholera case recorded was on 30 June 2024, initiating the 38-day countdown to the end of the outbreak.
Zimbabwe officially declared the end of the cholera outbreak on July 30.
Zimbabwe will receive support from the World Health Organisation (WHO) in decommissioning cholera treatment centers throughout the country. Funding for the support comes from the Health Resilience Fund.
“The decommissioning process involves a phased approach, beginning with a training of trainers to equip healthcare workers with the necessary skills to manage the safe closure of cholera treatment centers effectively so that the materials used at the CTCs (structures, implements and waste) do not pose an infection risk to staff and the community. This training will be cascaded to provincial and district levels to ensure a coordinated and efficient process,” said WHO.
While the cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe has been declared over, health authorities are still prioritizing surveillance and water sanitation efforts.