The Sunday News
Tanyaradzwa Rusike, Harare Bureau
ZIMBABWE will this week take delivery of a consignment of close to one million cholera vaccines ahead of the commencement of a nationwide vaccination campaign set to kick off next month.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care has secured about 2,2 million doses of the oral cholera vaccine (OCV) from the International Coordinating Group (ICG), which will be delivered in batches. The vaccination campaign, targeting multiple hotspot districts in seven provinces, will begin on February 29.
The ICG is a global health initiative established in 1997 under the World Health Organisation (WHO) to manage and coordinate the emergency supply and distribution of vaccines for critical outbreaks of four specific diseases – cholera, meningitis, yellow fever and Ebola.
Zimbabwe is battling a cholera outbreak that has so far claimed 71 lives. As of January 17, Zimbabwe had reported 18 865 suspected cholera cases, 2 223 confirmed cases and 12 137 recoveries. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care Dr Aspect Maunganidze said the vaccination programme will be rolled out in phases.
“The decision to allocate 2 226 820 vaccines was made on January 12, 2024, with the initial 892 286 doses coming into the country in the next seven to 10 days following their approval. We expect these vaccines in Zimbabwe anytime next week (this week). We then intend to start the vaccination programme from February 29, 2024, in a phased approach in the hotspots. We will be targeting the hotspots areas, also known as Prioritised Areas for Multi-Sectoral Interventions, where cases are being reported currently. These areas include targeted districts in the most affected provinces of Harare, Manicaland, Masvingo, Midlands, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West and Mashonaland Central.”
The districts targeted are Mutare Rural and Urban, Buhera, Gutu, Chiredzi, Mwenezi, Mberengwa, Zvishavane, Uzumba-Maramba-Pfungwe, Kariba, Mazowe, Mbire and Mt Darwin.
In Harare province, Dr Maunganidze said, vaccines will be administered in Kuwadzana, Glen View, Budiriro, Mbare, Southlea Park, Highfield, Glen Norah and Chitungwiza.
“Let me say that currently, these are the most affected areas where we will target specific wards reporting cases. The vaccine is not an end to cholera, but a temporary measure which should be complemented with tangible investment in safe water provision, health education on hygiene practices, increase in sanitation coverages, elimination of open defecation and removal of solid waste. The streets need to be clean with no dumping and avoidance of food vending and preparation from undesignated areas.”
Medical and Dental Private Practitioners of Zimbabwe Association president Dr Johannes Marisa said the vaccine will protect those in high-risk areas.
“This is a commendable initiative taken by Government to ensure the safety of the public. This vaccine will immunise people from getting the disease in the long run, so people should take it seriously. We hope the programme will spread across the country so that everyone benefits.”
