Chronicle Editor
SHUTTERED by the unavailability of nearby health centres and affordable transport costs, some Matabeleland North Province villagers have failed to get their first vaccination doses for Covid-19.
People from Tsholotsho, Lupane, Nkayi, Hwange, Binga, Umguza and Bubi say the issue of long-distance and poor road networks has led to many of them failing to get their first jabs which were open to the elderly, schoolteachers, religious leaders, security forces, and people with chronic diseases.
Mzomutsha Hlatshwayo (58) from Mthoniselwa village in Nkayi was one of the befitting beneficiaries but failed until the province ran out of vaccines.
“Our roads are extremely bad and going to Nkayi main hospital meant that we were supposed to use a scotch cart as our village only has one bus that uses the route to Sembewule in the far north of Nkayi,” says Hlatshwayo. He suffers from a kidney related ailment and sitting or walking for too long, fuels his condition.
“The message came in April towards month-end, but the bus was coming from Sembewule fully loaded and using a scotch cart due to my condition failed me, so l think l will try to get vaccinated if they bring these vaccines close to where we are at the Gonye clinic.”
Mutoli Siansali (59) from Nsungwale village in Binga North has a similar experience to that of Hlatshwayo.
“We were told by our children that a message had been sent from the health officials (Ministry of Health and Child Care) that we need to visit our hospital (Binga) to get vaccinated but that could not be possible as there are no daily buses that ply through our villagers.”
Provincial Medical Director (PMD) Dr Munekayi Padingani, said people had to find ways to reach health centres.
“We are not having that kind of problem or complaints now because these people find their own way to reach the hospitals. I currently do not have the exact figures of people who have been vaccinated in the province, but most of our numbers were drawn from Victoria Falls which had over 80 per cent of its residents coming through to be inoculated,” he added. –The Citizen Bulletin
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter