A Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) official on Thursday appealed to the international community to help Zimbabwe acquire test kits to help workers in the war against the COVID-19 pandemic.
ZADHR secretary Dr Norman Matara also argued for mass testing of citizens saying the measure is the only solution to know and control the spread of the coronavirus. Said Matara:
We wish and pray that the international community intervenes to help (curb) the spread of the disease by providing us with test kits and other protective measures to help health workers in the fight against coronavirus.
The number of people being tested in Zimbabwe is worrisome. They (authorities) should copy other countries like South Africa in increasing the numbers of people being tested and that is the only solution to know and control the spread of the virus.
Matara added that the virus has appeared at a time when Zimbabwe’s health system is very weak and the cheapest way of controlling the disease for the country at the moment is employing lockdown measures.
Zimbabwe has hitherto tested 233 people out of a population of 15 million. 9 of them were found positive and only one death has been officially confirmed.