CHOLERA VACCINES COMING
THE Government will begin rolling out cholera vaccines in hotspots across the country from January next week.
Health and Child Care Minister, Dr Douglas Mombeshora, revealed this at a media interactive session on the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programme.
WASH was launched by the Government to intervene in challenges faced by the Harare City Council
The Government has secured 2.3 million vaccine doses, with the initial 892 286 doses set to arrive by January 28.
The vaccine will initially be administered in hotspots where cases have been reported, and the target group to receive vaccines will be from one year and above.
The vaccine is safe and will be received in batches.
Mutare Urban, Buhera, Harare suburbs of Kuwadzana, Glen View, Budiriro, Mbare , Southlea Park ,Chitungwiza, Chiredzi, Gutu, Masvingo, Mwenezi, Zvishavane, Kariba, Mbire, Mt Darwin, Mazowe and Gweru are currently the most affected areas.
“For this campaign, there’ll only ne one dose as opposed to the usual two doses. The one dose will protect the individual for six months as opposed to two doses that have the potential of protecting for three years,” said Dr Mombeshora.
“Our case fatality rate stands at 1.8 percent or per 100 000 whereas in other countries it’s much higher than that.
“WHO accepts one percent or less, this means our management is good despite all these diarrhoea cases.
“Active cholera treatment centres countrywide are now 153, with Masvingo having 56, Manicaland Province 54, Harare four huge treatment centres, including Beatrice Infectious Disease Hospital.
“We have 949 cholera beds available and we have set up 33 oral rehydration points throughout the country, most of them being in rural areas.” Dr Mombeshora added:
“The recent surges were caused by gatherings, religious or otherwise, attendances to funerals as well as movements in artisanal mining areas.
“Funerals and gatherings are becoming the problems and the Operation Chenesa Harare has been initiated to deal with cholera.
“The Ministry has also advocated for piped water provision for every household. Where there is no council water, boreholes are being drilled.
“We have drilled more than 300 boreholes throughout the country as Ministry of Health.”