adminRoselyne Sachiti in Masvingo
Immunisation coverage in Zimbabwe has reached 90 percent with no major measles outbreak reported in the last four years.
Addressing journalists attending a capacity building workshop on maternal and child health in Masvingo on Monday, Unicef chief of health and nutrition Dr Assaye Kassie said this was a positive result of the Health Transition Fund, implemented in the country last year.
He said the increase, to some extent, also meant that some apostolic sects – well known for refusing to have their children immunised because of religious beliefs – could have had a change in attitude and brought their children forward. He said this change of mindsets could have been a result of campaigns carried out across the country.
“We have single cases here and there. There is a difference between a measles case and measles outbreak,” he explained.
Dr Kassie said that they were experiencing low coverage and suspected this had something to do with the apostolic sects.
“We had denomination campaigns and saw members of some apostolic faith sects bringing their children, but we need to further investigate the trends.
“What is important for now is the trend. We have seen a rise since 2009 and we are relatively feeling good about this,” he said.
Dr Kassie said out of the US$114 million mobilised under HTF, close to US$86 million has been utilised adding that this was a big achievement.
He said 1 000 midwives had been trained across the country so far through the HTF and 900 were currently undergoing training. Dr Kassie said 1 300 rural health facilities received midwifery and resuscitation kits, bags and masks for neonatal resuscitation. The HTF was launched as a five-year intervention to revitalise Zimbabwe’s ailing health system and reduce the country’s high maternal and child mortality rates.
It also additionally supports improvements in the quality of maternal and child health and nutrition services. The HTF is a Government initiative through the ministry of Health and Child Care in partnership with Unicef and international donors; Canadian International Development Agency; European Union; Irish Aid; Norwegian Embassy Swiss Agency for Development and Co-operation; Embassy of Sweden; UKAid and the United Nations.
Online Reporter