By George Makoni
HARARE – In response to flooding expected to trigger outbreaks of water-borne diseases, the Community Water Alliance (CWA), in partnership with Oxfam, government actors and the Start Network, has launched a layered anticipatory and early response strategy aimed at reducing exposure and enabling rapid containment of potential disease outbreaks.
The intervention comes at a time when heavy rains have heightened the risk of cholera and other water-borne infections in several high-density suburbs and peri-urban settlements. Public health experts have warned that flooding often contaminates water sources, disrupts sanitation systems and increases vulnerability in communities already grappling with limited access to safe water.
According to CWA officials, the project is anchored on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) interventions designed to mitigate the impact of potential outbreaks before they escalate into full-blown public health emergencies.
“The purpose of this anticipatory action is to reduce exposure and ensure rapid containment of anticipated water-borne diseases, particularly in high-risk communities,” the CWA National Coordinator ,Hardlife Mudzingwa said.
The project targets vulnerable communities in Harare, Chitungwiza, Epworth and Ruwa, with specific focus on suburbs such as Kuwadzana, Budiriro, Glen View, Epworth, Ruwa and Chitungwiza. These areas have historically been prone to cholera outbreaks due to inadequate water supply, burst sewer systems and overcrowding.
Key activities under the initiative include the early rehabilitation and chlorination of priority water points to ensure safe and potable water supplies. Authorities and partners are also pre-positioning and distributing household water treatment supplies and hygiene kits to vulnerable households.
Targeted hygiene promotion campaigns are being rolled out in high-risk communities to raise awareness on safe water handling, sanitation practices and early health-seeking behaviour. Community engagement teams are conducting door-to-door sensitization programmes to reinforce preventive messaging.
In a move to integrate gender-responsive protection, the project includes the provision of dignity kits for women and girls. These kits are designed to ensure that menstrual hygiene needs are met during emergency situations, when access to sanitary products often becomes limited.
Development partners have emphasized that emergencies disproportionately affect women and girls, making it critical to address their specific needs in disaster preparedness and response frameworks.
“The inclusion of dignity kits ensures that women and girls are not left behind during emergency interventions. It is a vital component of protection and public health,” officials said.
Beyond WASH interventions, the programme incorporates capacity-building initiatives for frontline health workers and community health volunteers. Training sessions are being conducted on cholera case management, Case Area Targeted Interventions (CATI), infection prevention and control (IPC), and community-based disease surveillance.
These measures are intended to strengthen rapid detection and containment of suspected cases, thereby preventing widespread transmission.
Health authorities note that community-based surveillance plays a critical role in early warning systems, enabling quicker responses to emerging cases and reducing mortality rates associated with cholera outbreaks
Non-food items are also being distributed to support household-level water treatment and safe storage in cholera hotspot areas and settlements without access to municipal piped water. These supplies are expected to cushion vulnerable households against contaminated water sources caused by flooding.
The intervention forms part of a broader collaborative effort between development partners and government actors to respond to an alert triggered by flooding in Zimbabwe. Local authorities in metropolitan provinces are actively involved in implementation to ensure coordination and sustainability.
Officials say the anticipatory approach marks a shift from reactive emergency response to proactive risk mitigation.
“As flooding continues to pose significant public health threats, coordinated early action is critical. Preventing an outbreak is far more effective and less costly than responding to one,”
With the rainy season intensifying, stakeholders are urging communities to cooperate with health teams, observe hygiene guidelines and report suspected case