- No coronavirus cases reported in Zim yet
- Health ministry to co-ordinate multi-sectoral response
THE Health and Child Care ministry on Tuesday warned Zimbabweans to avoid handshakes as a preventive measure against the coronavirus disease (COVID 19).
On the ministry’s official microblogging Twitter handle, Health minister Obadiah Moyo yesterday said Zimbabweans should avoid shaking hands, also advising them to seek medical attention whenever they felt a fever, cough and difficulty in breathing.
“I urge Zimbabweans to avoid shaking hands as part of the fight against the spread of the new COVID 19. Wash your hands frequently. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty in breathing, seek medical care early,” he said.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), statistics to date have confirmed 87 137 cases in mainland China, including 2 873 deaths.
Moyo also said the Health and Child Care ministry had plans afoot to co-ordinate an effective multi sectoral response, enhance surveillance at all levels of society to enable early detection and response mechanisms to the deadly virus.
Moyo also recently said the training of trainers in COVID 19-related matters had started at Wilkins Infectious Diseases Hospital and a total of 70 healthcare workers had already undergone training (17 doctors, 19 nurses, six laboratorians, two health promotion officers, three surveillance officers and three environmental health officers).
Meanwhile, WHO representative Alex Gasasira said the institution stood ready to assist Zimbabwe implement recommendations that could utilise available data so that it stands ready to deal with any COVID 19-related challenges.
“This will demonstrate that despite the potential health challenges COVID 19 may likely bring, Zimbabwe still continues to do better in various other areas of health service delivery,” he said.