Health and Child Care Minister Douglas Mombeshora says the government is committed to tackling deaths caused by snake bites and rabies, particularly in border areas and forested regions where the two health threats remain most severe.
Responding to concerns raised by legislators in Parliament on Tuesday over rising cases of snake bites and rabies, Mombeshora said efforts to combat both conditions have been incorporated into the country’s national health strategy. He said:
“Both snake bites and rabies are classified as neglected tropical diseases.
“They disproportionately affect our rural populations, and the Minister of Health and Child Care has placed them firmly on the National Health Agenda through the Neglected Tropical Disease Master Plan for 2023 to 2027, which was launched in December 2024 and guides our comprehensive response.”
Mombeshora said measures have been taken to ensure adequate stocks of snake anti-venom are available nationwide through NatPharm and other health facilities. He added:
“Regarding the rabies vaccine, our facilities in endemic areas hold stocks, which enable prompt intervention when a patient reports to a facility.
“Treatment must be initiated as soon as possible after exposure to be effective.”
Mombeshora told Parliament that snake bites remain a concern in several districts, with 1,513 cases recorded so far in 2026.
He said Hurungwe District has recorded 64 cases, followed by Zvimba District with 61, Makonde District with 46, Buhera District with 43, and Bikita District with 39 cases. Added Mombeshora:
“These are among the highest burden districts. These are the areas where we have intensified our anti-venom distribution and pre-positioning efforts.”
On rabies, Mombeshora said Zimbabwe recorded a cumulative total of 331 dog rabies cases and 17 human deaths between 2022 and October 2024.
He said Manicaland Province recorded the highest number of animal rabies cases at 126, followed by Mashonaland East Province with 50, Masvingo Province with 44, Mashonaland Central Province with 34, and Mashonaland West Province with 28.
Other provinces included Midlands Province with 20 cases, Matabeleland South Province with 13, Matabeleland North Province with 12, while Harare recorded four cases and Bulawayo recorded none.
Related:
Zimbabwe Records Over 8,000 Diarrhoea Cases In Latest Weekly Health Update
Zimbabwe Records Over 9,000 Common Diarrhoea Cases In One Week