Practicing what they preach…Community health workers get Covid-19 jab

Muchaneta Chimuka
Senior Reporter
Community health workers are doing a sterling job in educating people on the effects of Covid-19 as well as prevention mechanisms such as proper wearing of masks, hand washing and sanitisation, social and physical distancing as well as vaccination.

To ensure they practice what they preach, some have chosen to lead my example by taking the Covid-19 jab within their localities.

In an interview with The Herald, Mr Patrick Timothy an Environmental Health Officer (EHO) with the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MOHCC) in Masvingo said he got vaccinated in order for the nation to achieve herd immunity.

“It is my wish that we achieve heard immunity. Herd immunity is when 60 percent of the population is vaccinated and every step that an individual takes counts hence we encourage everyone who is eligible to go and get vaccinated.

“I received my first jab on January 27 and the second on March 28. So far so good, no challenges of side effects experienced,” he said.

“To the world at large my message is lets us all be vaccinated to preserve the God given life. Life is precious we should not lose it randomly.”

Mr Timothy who is also a member of the Rapid Response Team on Covid-19, said he educates people on the importance of being vaccinated.

“In my community Masvingo, I visit several homesteads weekly and other gatherings such as churches teaching them that it is not a sin to be vaccinated. I have seen positive changes where the majority are going for the vaccination,” he said.

Mr Darlington Vurombe (43) who is an Environmental Health Technician (EHT) with the MOHCC in Mwenezi District Ward 10 said he was vaccinated at Chirindi Rural Health Centre on February 25 and later received his second vaccine on March 28.

“I was vaccinated to trigger my body to be armed with anti-bodies which will help me fight Covid-19 when l catch the actual SARS COV2 infection. Simply put, I will develop immunity against Covid-19 disease,” said Mr Murombe who got the Sinopharm jab.

He said, there were no side effects experienced upon receiving both the first and second jab.

“Let’s all get vaccinated so that herd immunity can be achieved. Herd immunity is whereby at least 60 percent of the population is vaccinated to protect those who might be at high risk of Covid-19 fatality if they get infected,” he added.

Zimbabwe is receiving Covid-19 vaccinations from China and India and is expecting more to cover the whole population in order to achieve the heard immunity through the vaccination of 60-70 percent of the population.

Herd immunity is a form of indirect protection from infectious disease that can occur with some diseases when a sufficient percentage of a population has become immune to an infection, whether through vaccination or previous infections, thereby reducing the likelihood of infection for individuals who lack.