Dep Minister rallies media to help achieve Covid-19 herd immunity

Admore Mbonda

HEALTH and Child Care Deputy Minister Dr John Mangwiro has rallied the media fraternity to help in mobilising the population to get vaccinated against Covid-19 and attain 60 percent herd immunity by year end.

Addressing journalists during a media workshop organised by the National Aids Council (NAC) held in Chinhoyi on Wednesday, Dr Mangwiro appealed to the media to clear myths, misinformation, disinformation and fake news about vaccines.

He said the nation currently stands at 38 percent herd immunity and needed the media to help in the cause.

“We currently stand at 38 percent herd immunity and we are saying our target of 60 percent should be achieved by December. It is not only the Health ministry’s responsibility. Even you journalists must play your part. Help us get the herd immunity.

“I came here to concretise our relationship as Government and as a ministry. As journalists, we want you to make a difference. I want you to be part of the success story,” said Dr Mangwiro.

He added, “The anxiety we are experiencing in the country today due to Covid-19 is not totally different from what we experienced when HIV was first identified. Despite that, we managed to turn the tide and build a resilient response to HIV for which our country has been recognised as a best practice.”

He highlighted that the potent Covid-19 virus, and not the life-saving vaccines, could also result in acute renal failure, and sufferers may end up needing dialysis treatment.

“I am sure we can rely on the experience we garnered in the response to HIV to effectively confront Covid-19. One of these experiences relates to the importance and role of the media in disseminating health information.”

He said the emergence of Covid-19 has once again brought to the fore the relevance of the media.

“As the media and health fraternities, let us continue to work collectively to tame the two epidemics. The promotion of relevant behaviour changes such as social distancing, hand sanitisation, wearing face masks and the uptake vaccination is a difficult endeavour in the face of hardened behaviours,” added Dr Mangwiro.