Chronicle Editor
Thandeka Moyo-Ndlovu, Health Reporter
MORE than 4 200 health workers have tested positive to Covid-19 and 18 have died countrywide since March last year.
A total of 39 550 frontline workers have been vaccinated so far including health workers, journalists and security forces.
As of March 16, 2021, Zimbabwe had recorded 36 535 cases including 34 124 recoveries and 1 507 deaths.
On the same day, 1 890 people were inoculated as vaccination of frontline workers continues at static sites in all provinces.
In a post-Cabinet briefing on Tuesday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said the Covid-19 recovery rate stands at 93 percent, with 34 722 cases attributed to local transmission.
“The cumulative number of infected health care workers has risen from 4 008 to 4 210 with 18 deaths. Cabinet was informed that a total of 39 550 people has so far been vaccinated within the first 20 days of the programmes with all provinces receiving coverage,” she said.
“Efforts are underway to increase vaccination awareness in order to reach the minimum of 60 percent of the population vaccinated to achieve herd immunity.
“To gather momentum, the number of vaccinators will be increased by involving the health workers in the uniformed forces, local authorities and health worker retirees,” added Minister Mutsvangwa.
Contacted for comment, the Zimbabwe Nurses Association president Mr Enock Dongo said health care workers need information to help them overcome myths that have been spread on vaccines.
“It has to be appreciated that Covid-19 is a new condition that is yet to be mastered even globally and there are so many misconceptions spreading on the issue of vaccines. Health workers are not spared that is why some of them are reluctant to be vaccinated surely it is not their problem as they do not have correct information from the reliable sources,” said Mr Dongo.
He said the Government should look into the issue of providing information tailor-made for the health workers so they come on board.
Mr Dongo said the correct information on the Covid-19 vaccines should be widely spread especially on social media to counter falsehoods that members of the public have taken in as truth. One of the recovered nurses who preferred to be called Sister Ncube from Bulawayo said quite a number of nurses had been greatly affected.
“We honestly suffered especially during the first months and it is much better although we need adequate PPE. We have mixed feelings on the vaccine even as health care workers we needed the health education as humans because we are still traumatised,” said Sr Ncube.
She said that despite being in the health field they too had lots of beliefs which may discourage them from getting inoculated. — @thamamoe
Online Reporter