Story by Memory Chamisa
ZIMBABWE took delivery of over 800 000 Oral Cholera Vaccines at the Robert Mugabe International Airport this Saturday as the country moves to curb the spread of the epidemic.
The vaccines are part of the 2.6 million Oral Cholera Vaccine doses allocated to Zimbabwe by the World Health Organisation International Coordinating Group on vaccine provision, with support from health partners to strengthen national response to the current cholera outbreak.
UNICEF Country Director Dr Tajudeen Oyewale and World Health Organisation Country Representative Professor Jean Marie Dangoe underscored the importance of people getting vaccinated, especially in hotspot areas.
“The Cholera vaccines just like other vaccines is there to save lives, so it’s imperative for people to go out and get vaccinated. As UNICEF, we remain committed to ensuring communities are given the best health services,” said Dr Oyewale.
Professor Dangoe added saying, “WHO and UNICEF combined efforts have ensured swift vaccine deployment, improved knowledge on cholera prevention measures, and strengthened healthcare systems in affected communities. But the fight against this deadly disease demands a united front. We urge all partners, from donors, non-governmental organisations, civil society and the private sector, leaders and individuals, to step forward and join this crucial crusade. By mobilizing resources and expertise, we can not only safeguard the progress made but ultimately dismantle the conditions that enable cholera to thrive.”
Health and Child Care Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora commended the partnerships and interventions being implemented saying the onus is now on people to embrace the vaccination programme.
“We commend the help development partners such as UNICEF, WHO, and Health Resilient Fund have been giving us the past year. However, the onus is on people now to go and get vaccinated. This is not the first time we have had the Cholera vaccination campaign 2018 and 2019 we once had such a programme and this year again we urge all people to go out and get vaccinated. We have already dispatched the first batch of vaccines to Masvingo Province and we are expecting more to come in the following weeks. Vaccines have no side effects and save lives.”
On Monday, the Ministry of Health and Child Care is set to launch the Cholera Vaccines Campaign in Kuwadzana, one of the hotspots in Harare.
Other polyclinics and identified mobile units will also be carrying out vaccination campaigns across the country.
