Chronicle Editor
Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief
THE Midlands province has recorded over 900 Covid-19 positive cases and nine fatalities among health workers since the onset of the pandemic in March last year.
According to the Ministry of Health and Child Care, as at August 31, a total of 939 health workers had been infected with the virus in the province.
Of these, 22 were doctors, 511 nurses, 69 nurse aids, 114 general hands, 24 laboratory technicians, 29 environmental health technicians and others 170 within the health fraternity.
A total of nine health workers succumbed to Covid-19 and of these, three were from Gokwe South District, two from Kwekwe District while Gweru, Chirumhanzu, Shurugwi and Zvishavane Districts recorded a single death each.
The Covid-19 update noted that Kwekwe General Hospital turned out to be the Covid-19 hotspot among other health institutions in the province, as it recorded 244 cases.
Of these, 91 were nurses, seven doctors, 11 nurse aides and 49 others at the hospital. The report states that the province recorded 9 896 cumulative cases, 9 378 recoveries and 408 deaths.
“The Midlands hotspots are Gweru with 3 180 cases and 153 deaths, Kwekwe with 1 507 cases and 111 deaths, Zvishavane with 1 334 cases and 52 deaths, Shurugwi with 1 161 cases and 21 deaths while Gokwe South had 1 098 cases and 53 deaths,” reads part of the update.
Meanwhile, a total of 427 652 people have been vaccinated in the Midlands province of which 273 900 received their first dose.
There has been a high uptake of the vaccine in Gweru and Kwekwe, which to date have recorded 53 750 and 48 359 first dose takers respectively. Midlands is targeting to inoculate 618 119 people above the age of 18 years for it to reach the 60 percent herd immunity.
The Health Ministry said some of the districts need training of facility health workers on Antigen Covid-19 testing, mentorship on the job on case investigations and line listing and shortage of tablets for electronic data transmission.
“Districts would greatly appreciate support for the RRTs in the form of fuel, data, airtime and lunch time allowances,” said the ministry.
It called for local and international partners to actively support and participate in Covid-19 surveillance, case-investigation, risk communication and infection prevention and control in the province.
Last month Midlands Provincial Medical Director, Dr Mary Muchekeza, said there was a need for more resources such as personal protective equipment for the health workers in order to mitigate against the spread of the deadly pandemic.
“There is a need for more PPEs for our health workers so that we combat this enemy, we are at war and synergies in resource mobilisation are needed to mitigate against this virus,” she said.
“Resources will continue to be needed for some time to come as scientists have predicted a fourth wave of this virus.
“We need ambulances for transportation, isolation and treatment facilities, medical supplies and other non-medical supplies for the motivation of our staff members,” said Dr Muchekeza.
Online Reporter