Sundaymail Editor
Sunday Mail Reporter
Health experts have called on the Government to introduce compulsory measles vaccination to effectively deal with the virus that has killed close to 1 000 children since April.
The country is presently battling a raging measles outbreak that was first reported in Manicaland province five months ago and has since spread countrywide.
The measles vaccine has been in use for nearly 60 years.
The Government has rolled out a nationwide vaccination campaign targeting children between six months and five years.
However, in some areas, the campaign is being affected by disinformation and religious beliefs.
Medical and Dental Private Practitioners of Zimbabwe Association (MDPPZA) president Dr Johannes Marisa said the Government should “consider enacting legislation that makes vaccination against killer diseases such as measles mandatory”.
“Because of resistance, education may not be enough,” he said.
There was need, he said, to escalate the ongoing mass vaccination programme and enhance awareness campaigns among religious groups that are traditionally anti-vaccine.
“The Government should ensure the measles vaccination programme is taken to schools and made compulsory before the outbreak goes out of hand.
“We need to employ the same strategy and tactics we deployed to fight Covid-19.”
Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) executive director Mr Itai Rusike said measles vaccines are safe and compulsory immunisation of children under the age of five was a step in the right direction.
“There is need for mandatory immunisation,” he said.
“Unvaccinated children are at the highest risk of contracting measles and it can lead to death.
“Measles is a vaccine-preventable disease, hence it is unnecessary to lose lives from an avoidable and preventable disease,” he said.
Paediatrician Dr Arthur Madzika said there was need to enforce compulsory vaccination of learners to ensure that schools do not turn into super-spreaders of the disease.
“And one of the measures is to ensure that all teachers and learners, regardless of their religion, are vaccinated,” he said.
Health law and policy expert Mr Tinashe Mundawarara said the Public Health Act allows the Minister of Health and Child Care to decree mandatory vaccination.
“Religious, traditional beliefs and other persuasions cannot stand in the way of the child’s best interests and constitutional rights for a child’s access to healthcare as enshrined in Sections 76 and 81 of the Constitution.
“More so, the Minister of Health and Child Care is empowered by Section 42 of the Public Health Act to issue a notice in the Government Gazette to establish such a mandatory programme. Central Government has to stop this malpractice through an enabling policy response as provided for in Section 42 of the Public Health Act and act in the best interests of the Zimbabwean child,” said Mr Mundawarara.
“It is now a public health emergency that requires urgent and swift action in accordance with Section 76 and Section 81 of the Constitution to stem the spread of measles.
“In terms of Section 42 of the Public Health Act, compulsory immunisation of children and incapacitated persons is permitted when there are compelling reasons for public health safety.”
Online Reporter