Apostolic Sects Healing Rituals Fueling Cholera Cases
Apostolic sect allegedly conducting bizarre healing rituals and wilfully polluting Save River.
Village health workers in Buhera bemoaned the conduct of some religious objectors who are refusing to get professional health care services, opting to treat their infected sect members in mainstream rivers, thereby spreading the disease to downstream communities relying on the waterbodies for various uses.
Mapostori Die as Cholera Spreads in Chirumhanzu
The latest cholera wave has been recorded in Buhera, Mutare and Chipinge Districts, with the epicentre being Buhera which has reported a cumulative 746 cases and 27 deaths since August 2023.
Cumulatively, Manicaland had recorded 2 350 cholera cases and 83 deaths as at October 13, with 40 new cases and one death being recorded last week on Saturday.
Health Ministry has toured Murambinda Mission Hospital, Mudanda and Betera Clinics where the cases were linked to lack of clean water sources, poor sanitation and lack of basic hygiene practices.
Apostolic Sects Healing Rituals Fueling Cholera Cases
Dr Mombeshora said there are plans to drill eight solar-powered boreholes across Buhera.
Ms Angeline Sanganayi, a health worker for Toreva and Pasipamire in Buhera said members of some churches are refusing professional treatment and opting to treat their ailing patients in rivers.
Patients from Chitsidzo Shrine are taken to the river and made to sit and relieve themselves in the water. They believe fresh water has healing properties that cure diarrhoea.
The place along Save River is known as Zambuko (Mutapigo). They are adamant and insist that their religious believes will conquer cholera.
Bizarrely, the patients are given the same water to drink during the healing sessions and unsuspecting communities downstream also use that contaminated water for domestic use.
Advocate Misheck Mugadza said they will investigate the issue as a matter of urgency.
The major challenge is of religious objectors, some churches do not believe in seeking treatment. This is what has lead us to where we are today, and we are engaging them.
