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Rejoice Makoni
Herald Correspondent
Child vaccinations for a wide range of diseases are being intensified by the Ministry of Health and Child Care, with support from World Health Organisation and UNICEF, to ensure the huge progress already achieved is maintained and ensuring no child dies where protection is possible.
This was revealed during a media briefing on immunisation held in Harare last week as part of commemorating the world immunisation week.
The global effort aims to reverse the decline in childhood vaccination recorded in over 100 countries since the pandemic due to overburdened health services.
In his address, WHO technical response officer responsible for vaccination Dr Maxwell Rupfutse said Zimbabwe through its massive vaccination programmes had managed to achieve a number of goals that include being declared polio-free by WHO and managing to eradicate maternal and neonatal tetanus since 2002 among other achievements.
He said there was need for promoting and educating people about the vaccination schedule. Speaking at the same briefing health promotion manager EPI in the Ministry of Health and Child Care Mr Norman Dziripi said vaccines were important interventions and they help to protect diseases that can cause death.
“Vaccines have protected a large number of people from illness and death compared to any medical invention. Vaccination is the key in terms of reducing child mortality and mobility and other primary health care,” he said.
Mr Dziripi said Government established a robust national immunisation programme in line with the primary health care concept.
“Immunisation has the widest reach of all the programmes in the Ministry of Health and Child Care to ensure no one is left out. Government has made significant investments in immunisation infrastructure and made sure vaccines are easily accessible to the public,” said Mr Dziripi.
“UNICEF health specialist primary health care Ms Meggie Gabida said UNICEF support to the primary health care approach complements President Mnangagwa’s mantra of leaving no one and no place behind.
“We support the procurement and distribution of vaccines to the reach all the districts in Zimbabwe. It also supports the procurement and distribution of vaccine carriers and the distribution of cold chain equipment to make hard to reach areas are covered.”
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