Connect with us

In the community

Overwhelmed by Covid-19 cases, Vic Falls stops contact tracing at homes

Published

on

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

The Health and Child Care ministry has stopped contact tracing at homes in Victoria Falls due to the overwhelming number of new infections in the third wave of the pandemic sweeping across the country.

Advertisement

Fungai Musinami, Hwange district medical officer, in an update on the Covid-19 outbreak in the resort city said the Victoria Falls Rapid Response Team (RRT) was no long able to follow up on people that test positive at their homes.

“Given the number of cases and the contacts that need follow up, it is no longer practical or efficient for our RRT to visit and test people at home,” Musinami said.

She said if anyone falls ill or had been in contact with someone, who recently tested positive to Covid-19, they should immediately seek medical attention.

Advertisement

“To avoid delays in getting correct treatment, if you have symptoms suggestive of Covid-19 or have been in contact with someone who has Covid-19, please put on your mask and go to your nearest health facility for testing,” Musinami said.

“Please do not delay getting a test; early treatment is very important.”

Victoria Falls Hospital, Chinotimba Clinic, Truck Stop Wellness Clinic and Beat Aids Clinic, an isolation Centre in Mkhosana high density suburb are the designated facilities for Covid-19 cases.

Advertisement

They also offer free testing.

“If you are self-isolating at home and your condition changes or you feel more unwell, please call the hotline on 0782076918,” Musinami said.

She said Victoria Falls Hospital, which is the only facility administering Covid-19 vaccines in the city was giving first and second doses.

Advertisement

“Remember a single dose of the vaccine is not effective so make sure you get both doses of the vaccine,” Musinami added.

“Our current vaccination statistics are as follows:

“As of Monday, Hwange district had 1 988 cumulative cases, 545 active cases, 25 deaths and 1 418 discharged cases.

Advertisement

“Of the 545 active cases, 166 were derived from Victoria Falls urban.

District total for first dose stood at 47 981 and 29 137 for the second dose 29137.

“If you missed your appointment for the second dose please come to the hospital and get your second dose so that you are fully vaccinated.

Advertisement

“Let’s continue to mask up, sanitize and hand wash, and maintain physical distance.

“Avoid gatherings and unless you really have to go out, do stay home.”

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

In the community

Painted Dog Conservation and Uncommon bring free coding school to Gwai Valley Primary

Published

on

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI 

Painted Dog Conservation (PDC), in partnership with technology-driven organisation Uncommon, is set to establish a free coding school at Gwai Valley Primary in Lupane District, marking a new chapter in community empowerment and education.

Speaking during an interview with VicFallsLive, PDC operations director, David Kuvawoga said the initiative stems from the organisation’s long-term work with local schools through its children’s bush camps.

“In our quest to find solutions to the poaching crisis, and building on the work we’ve done with schools over the years, we identified Gwai Primary as a good location to start a coding school,” he explained. “We partnered with Uncommon, which already runs facilities in Harare and Victoria Falls, to bring this opportunity closer to rural communities.”

The school will be housed in container units equipped with computers and other necessary technology. According to PDC, the project will be led by youths from the Gwai community who underwent year-long training in Victoria Falls and are now prepared to teach children — and adults — the fundamentals of coding.

“This is not just for schoolchildren,” the operations director said. “Anyone in the community with the passion to learn can join. What matters is the interest and commitment, not formal qualifications.”

Importantly, the programme will be free of charge. Both organisations confirmed that tuition, equipment, and running costs are fully covered through fundraising efforts.

“No one is going to pay a cent,” he said. “Just like our bush camps, which host over a thousand children every year without charge, this coding school is fully funded. All the community needs to do is embrace it.”

PDC has previously supported communities through projects such as boreholes and gardens, but this marks its first major investment in technology. The director said the initiative has the potential to address unemployment, improve education, and give local youth world-class digital skills.

“Coding is a highly sought-after skill across the world,” he noted. “If young people here can learn it, they can secure jobs or even create employment for others. This is a brick in the foundation of uplifting Lupane, Hwange, and beyond.”

The coding school is expected to open in December at Gwai Valley Primary.

Continue Reading

In the community

Lupane police officer sentenced for tampering with mbanje evidence

Published

on

BY WANDILE TSHUMA 

A 21-year-old constabulary officer in Lupane has been convicted after admitting he tampered with evidence in a drug possession case, effectively helping a suspect conceal part of the stash.

The officer, Nqobile Mutale, was on duty at Lupane Terminus Base on the 18th of September when he arrested Thulani Sibanda, who had been implicated in unlawful possession of dagga/imbanje. Instead of handing over the full exhibit, Mutale struck a deal with Sibanda and hid part of the recovered drugs behind the police base.

Detectives later uncovered the hidden dagga, with Mutale leading them to the site during investigations.

Standing before the Lupane Magistrates’ Court, Mutale pleaded guilty to obstructing the course of justice. He was handed a 24-month sentence, with nine months suspended. The balance of 15 months was also suspended, provided he completes 525 hours of community service.

Continue Reading

In the community

Avoid nightime movement and stoning elephants, communities told

Published

on

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI 

Following a recent spate of human-wildlife conflict incidents, Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority spokesperson Tinashe Farawo has urged communities to exercise caution when encountering wild animals.

Farawo emphasized the importance of avoiding confrontations with elephants, particularly when they encroach into community areas. “We would like to urge members of the communities to avoid throwing stones at elephants,” he said. “This action agitates them, leading to attacks on people.”

In addition to avoiding confrontations, Farawo advised community members to minimize movement at night, as this is when wild animals are most active. “We would like to urge communities to avoid moving at night to minimize casualties,” he said.

Farawo’s comments come after a 79-year-old man from Hwange was killed by an elephant yesterday. The incident is still under investigation by rangers. This is the second fatal incident in the area, following the death of another man who was attacked by an elephant while on his way to work in Hwange town several weeks ago.

 

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2022 VicFallsLive. All rights reserved, powered by Advantage