The Plight of Cholera – The Prayers of God’s People

Clean water is of high priority in Zimbabwe today; especially in the cities and high density areas within the cities.  Without clean water disease spreads rapidly.  The cholera situation is out of control in country, with over 12,540 reported cases of the disease since August.  Reported deaths sits at 565 this week, however, medical experts warn that this number could be significantly lower than reality.  BBC reports the UN Children's fund expects 60,000 cholera cases in the coming weeks.

One Baptist church in Harare is working hard to procure and distribute water purification tablets next week among churches and pastors in order to get them out to the public.

"The water situation is serious.  One of our church members hasn't had any water at her house for over three weeks.” 

She is just one of an overwhelming majority of people living without access to water of any kind. 

“With the rains starting just now, one would think this would remedy the situation; however it will actually exacerbate the spread of cholera if the water is not purified.  Standing water will increase the occurrence of the disease as sewage flows into it." 

Without access to municipal water; people are digging wells.  There are an estimated eight new boreholes being dug every week in Harare alone, having a great effect on the water table for the future.  With the sewer and sanitation situation in such a state of disrepair, raw sewage is flowing into municipal water sources; unless it is purified before use it will increase the instances of the disease.

“People in our church have a huge fear of contracting cholera.  The act of shaking hands as a greeting is not being practiced any more. “

 The Herald newspaper reported Zimbabwe’s Health minister, David Parirenyatwa as saying, "I want to stress the issue of shaking hands. Although it's part of our tradition to shake hands, it's high time people stopped shaking hands." 

Rehydration powder is something the church is also trying to source at present, although they see the distribution of the purification tabs as a top priority.  “Cholera is not something you can have a wait and see attitude about.”  There aren’t enough hospitals open to admit the numbers of folks succumbing to the disease.  The church is hoping that through the dispensing of the purification tabs and ultimately the rehydration powder, they can help alleviate some of the suffering folks are experiencing at present. 

Pray for the procurement and dispensing of precious purification tablets and rehydration powder.  Pray for those who will instruct the public on the usage of these items, that understanding will occur and lives will be saved.

No one should have to die of cholera.