By Gideon Madzikatidze
Mobile telephony giant, Econet and Higherlife Foundation has embarked on a massive clean-up campaign in the high density suburbs of Budiriro and Glenview in an endeavour to combat cholera.
Econet and Higherlife Foundation representative, Mr. Lovemore Nyatsine said the organisation has already recruited 600 volunteers serving as health stewards or advocates in Budiriro and Glenview.
“The reason why we are targeting these two high density suburbs is just simple. It is because these areas are being regarded as the cholera epicentre and as an organisation, we see it possible to save lives through creating an atmosphere that is conducive for both human life and health as one of our organisation’s priorities.
“Since the areas (Budiriro and Glen View) mark the genesis of cholera, we are also targeting to constantly dispatch about 600 health stewards or advocates who will help in carrying out clean up and educational awareness campaigns which will help the communities to uphold all necessary hygienic prerequisites to turn around the suburbs a cholera free zone, which is an important strategy to save lives,” Mr Nyatsine said.
The health stewards will be moving door to door cleaning up the streets in Budiriro and Glenview. This helps in alleviating all incidences of health hazard in the areas and creates a sense of responsibility and belonging to local people in taking precautionary measures that abruptly end cholera.
Econet and Higherlife Foundation’s clean-up campaign was graced by the First Lady, Amai Auxilia Mnangagwa who applauded the initiative and encouraged private and public partnerships in dealing with cholera.
Mai Mnangagwa said, “We really applaud the commitment by Econet and Higherlife foundation in fighting the cholera scourge and the organisation’s contribution to human life and health assurance of our communities is of paramount importance.
“We should all rally behind these initiatives by the organisation since they value and consider health as a priority for communities, hence private public partnerships also transform lives among communities,” the First Lady said.