Mat South A COVID-19 Ticking Time Bomb?

Despite government's promise to distribute COVID-19 PPE's to all provinces, Matabeleland villagers still have no access to face masks and sanitizers. Image by Macau Photo Agency | Unsplash

BY NQOBILE BHEBHE | @The_CBNews | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | DEC 2, 2020

Despite extensive knowledge on the coronavirus pandemic, Matabeleland South has minimal access to PPE, a recent spike in cases is even more concerning.

GWANDA (The Citizen Bulletin) — Matabeleland South has the highest proportion of households with a perceived high risk of contracting COVID-19, according to research findings by the Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee (ZimVAC).

The survey results come at the backdrop of the province particularly Gwanda district recording an increase in the number of people who have contracted COVID-19.

Knowledge on the COVID-19 pandemic, its transmission and preventive measures sits well over the 90 percent mark countywide.

“This is evidence that people in the rural areas are to some extent aware of COVID-19 and its common symptoms.”
ZimVAC report reads

ZimVAC is a consortium of government, development agencies, UN, NGOs, technical agencies and academia whose mandate is to promote a multi-sectoral response to food insecurity, nutrition, water and sanitation issues.

Matabeleland villagers are aware of COVID-19 and its symptoms. Graphic by ZimVAC

The survey also shows that rural communities have knowledge on common symptoms of COVID-19 with cough as the most known symptom, (84.7%), fever (74%), headaches (52.4%), sore throat (44.9%) and shortness of breath (44.1%).

“The top three (3) preventive measures as indicated by the households were: regular washing of hands with soap and clean water (78%), social distancing (61%), and wearing a mask when in public (57%).”

However, despite a vast majority of rural communities being aware of the pandemic preventive measures, access to key personal protective equipment (PPE) and accessories is worrying.

Nationally, access to hand washing soap stands at (84%) and masks (62%) however, sanitizers are not easily accessible rating at six percent, it says.

Matabeleland South has 8 % of people with access to hand sanitizers, masks at (68%) and 34 % households surveyed had access to soaps.

Depending on quality and quantity a bottle of sanitizer retails between $5 and $10 and ordinary masks for $1.

Former Bulilima East legislator Norman Mpofu says the numbers paint a grim picture describing the province “as surviving on luck.”

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Mpofu says it’s rare to see ordinary villagers wearing or using government issued masks or sanitizers.

“Only government workers are spotted equipped with PPEs. For the general public its business as usual,” he told this publication.

In rural Matabeleland South, Mpofu says “nobody cares” about enforcing regulations and many lack the required equipment; masks used are generally substandard. Rural shops use home-made sanitizers including methylated spirits which reports have indicated as unsafe because of the presence of acetone.

“The bottom line is that Matabeleland South is in danger. Villagers survive by luck.”
Norman Mpofu, former Bulilima East legislator

As of the 1st of December, the province has recorded 148 active cases, 870 recoveries and 9 deaths.

Siduduzile Khupe, a community leader in Plumtree echoes Mpofu's worry on the availability of donated PPE in rural communities.

“While we commend that rural communities are aware of COVID-19 its worrying that access to vital preventive mechanisms is a struggle,” says Khupe.

“We continue to hear that the government is receiving donations from other countries for distribution but it's rare to hear or see rural communities having those donations. Where are they (donations)?” asks Khupe while calling on authorities to publish a comprehensive list of donated items to provinces.

Government declared the COVID-19 pandemic a “national disaster” on Friday, 27 March, paving way to commandeer State resources towards fighting the virus.

Three days later a 21-day countrywide lockdown including closure of schools followed and subsequently moderately eased and then extended indefinitely on May 16.

The aim was to slow the spread of COVID-19. Citizens were required to wear face masks in public, to remain indoors, wash hands frequently and practice physical distancing.

With emergency regulations in motion, donations from other countries started pouring in.

China is among the first countries to donate and continue to complement Zimbabwe's efforts in fighting the pandemic through various donations since.

With each consignment, the government has said the donations will be spread to all provinces.

Villagers have resorted to making their own protective gear at home to guard against the Coronavirus while some are buying masks and sanitizers. Graphic by ZimVAC

ZimVac report adds that during its survey phase, 56.9 % of PPE used was mostly homemade and 56,6 % was purchased from suppliers.

Nationally, donations accounted for only 9.2 % access for rural communities.

Environmental health expert Patience Ndlovu has expressed worry on limited access of sanitizers and masks in the province.

“A huge crisis is yet to unfold in the province,” she says.

“It’s worrying that a small percentage of rural communities have access to sanitizers yet we daily preach that they are key in preventing the virus spreading.”

She has warned that when infection rate spikes in the province it “might be too late to avail sanitizers and soaps to people who are being side-lined.”

“The proximity of the province to South Africa which has far greater cases should worry the government and everyone.”

“With high poverty levels in the province people daily cross illegally to South Africa in search of food. That exposes them to the virus and some may unknowingly infect others upon return. All preventive resources must be availed in the province.”

Going to the clinic is the most common reaction in case villagers suspect a COVID-19 case while very few people would consult traditional healers or prophets. Graphic by ZimVAC

In November, the national COVID-19 recovery rate dropped to 89.5 percent from a high of 95.1 percent around October.

In light of the current COVID-19 pandemic, handwashing practices and general hygiene practices need to be scaled up, ZimVac urges in its report.

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