APA-Harare (Zimbabwe) Zimbabwe has partnered with the World Health Organisation (WHO) to strengthen the capacity of local health officials to undertake rapid and accurate data analysis in the face of a deadly cholera outbreak that has claimed over 140 lives since February.
As part of the initiative, the Ministry of Health and WHO announced late Monday that they had equipped 54 Zimbabwe health information officers with the necessary skills to analyse data effectively, enabling more efficient and targeted cholera interventions.
Ministry of Health Rapid Diseases Surveillance Manager Alex Goredema said accurate and timely data analysis was the backbone of effective cholera response as it is crucial in understanding the spread of the disease, identifying high-risk areas and facilitates implementation of timely interventions.
“By investing in the training of health information officers, we are empowering them to make informed decisions that can save lives and prevent the further spread of the disease,” Ministry of Health Rapid Diseases Surveillance Manager Alex Goredema said.
He noted that through hands-on exercises and case studies, participants gained valuable exerience in analysing data sets specific to cholera outbreaks.
This practical approach ensures that data officers are well-prepared to tackle the challenges they may encounter in the field.
WHO announced that it has helped the Zimbabwean ministry to establish a dedicated support system to assist the health information officers in their work.
The system would provide the officers with access to advanced data analysis tools and ongoing mentorship from experienced professionals.
By fostering a collaborative environment, the ministry would create a network of skilled health information officers who can share best practices and contribute to continuous improvement in data analysis techniques particularly during emergencies.
The training, carried out from 13-17 November, was funded by the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund and the WHO’s Contingency Fund for Emergencies.
Zimbabwe health officials are on high alert as the number of suspected cholera cases breached the 7,000 mark this month since an outbreak was reported in February.
The first case was reported in Chegutu district in Mashonaland West province on February 12 but the outbreak has now spread to all the country’s 10 provinces.
Zimbabwe is prone to regular cholera outbreaks since local authorities are struggling to provide residents with clean drinking water.
This has forced most residents to drink water from unprotected well, thereby exposing themselves to diseases such as cholera.
The latest cases bring the spectre of the country’s worst ever cholera outbreak that claimed over 4,000 lives and affected more than 100,000 individuals.
JN/APA