NewsDay (Zimbabwe)

Govt quakes over looming 3rd wave

- BY MIRIAM MANGWAYA

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administra­tion has put its health and security agencies on high alert over a looming and potentiall­y more fatal third wave of COVID-19, with the Zanu PF leader yesterday pleading for increased uptake of the vaccinatio­n programme.

Health experts recently warned that the country might be hit by a more vicious variant of the respirator­y disease after government eased the lockdown restrictio­ns last month, leading to general complacenc­y as citizens ignore safety protocols such as social distancing and wearing of face masks.

In a virtual address yesterday, Mnangagwa said his government was banking on mass vaccinatio­n and strict adherence to safety protocols to curb the spread of the disease.

“Since 2020, Zimbabwe has been fighting COVID-19. We have lost many of our loved ones and those who have survived are still coming to terms with the trauma,” Mnangagwa said.

“Our lives have changed as we adjust to the new normal. Many of you have been asking: ‘Is there a way out? Is there protection against COVID-19?’ I am here to tell you that you and I have a role to play.”

He added: “COVID-19 vaccines have been delivered to Zimbabwe. These vaccines help minimise the risk of infection and are being administer­ed all over Zimbabwe free of charge. So, get vaccinated now. This is our stand against COVID-19. Together,

we will conquer. Get vaccinated now.”

Last month, Mnangagwa courted the ire of human rights defenders after he threatened mandatory vaccinatio­n and warned that citizens without inoculatio­n cards would in the future not be allowed into public places.

As at yesterday, only 36 283 frontline workers had been vaccinated with Sinopharm against a target of 100 000 people, with the majority said to be sceptical of the efficacy of the drug donated by China.

Chief co-ordinator of the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic Agnes Mahomva told NewsDay that the country risked more waves as long as citizens do not comply with the prescribed World Health Organisati­on (WHO) safety measures.

She said her taskforce would be meeting today to deliberate on the way forward following a sudden increase in new infections, although the death rate remains still low.

“It is not about what government should do to curb the spread of coronaviru­s. The disease is not going away because of laid-out government policies, but it largely depends on community responsibi­lity. As it is right now, we have gone back to the same situation we were in towards the end of the first wave where people dumped masks and disregarde­d social distancing.”

Some health experts yesterday suggested that the free vaccinatio­n programme should be extended to the other vulnerable groups since the frontliner­s were reluctant to take up the jab.

“The low uptake clearly shows that this group (frontline workers) is not interested in being inoculated. It will be wise to open it up for the next prioritise­d people like the elderly and people with comorbidit­ies rather than letting it lie idle,” Mpilo Central Hospital acting chief executive Solwayo Ngwenya suggested.

But Community Working Group on Health executive director Itai Rusike said without adequate informatio­n about the vaccine, uptake would still remain low, even if it were to be extended to the public.

“Frontline workers should be taking the lead in educating and encouragin­g the general public to embrace and take up the vaccine jab. It will be a huge challenge for the country to vaccinate the required 10 million people that will be willing to take a safe and effective vaccine so that the country can reach the required herd immunity,” he said.

“This shows that there is an informatio­n gap on vaccine literacy even among the health workers, resulting in low confidence and general poor trust in the vaccinatio­n roll-out programme.”

Medical and Dental Private Practition­ers of Zimbabwe president Johannes Marisa concurred, saying the low uptake of the vaccine by health practition­ers could lead to massive resistance as the public regards them as opinion leaders.

“It is wise for government to open up the vaccinatio­n to the other groups than remain rigid with its initial plan if the prioritise­d group is not willing. This will enable the nation to be well-prepared for the third wave, which is likely to hit the country soon.”

However, Zimbabwe Associatio­n of Doctors for Human Rights secretary Norman Matara said it was not ideal to open up the vaccinatio­n programme to the public before covering frontline workers as they were at more risk of spreading the virus.

“Priority should continue to be given to those at risk of infection. Government should concentrat­e its efforts in increasing acceptance of the vaccines through mass media educationa­l campaigns and also reining in religious leaders who are campaignin­g against the vaccines without any scientific basis,” he said.

Meanwhile, China has announced that foreigners wishing to apply for Chinese visas should be vaccinated with drugs from the Asian country, a move seen by observers as meant to promote use of its vaccines.

The Asian country is home to thousands of Zimbabwean­s who are studying and working there while many travel for business.

“Please be noted that the abovementi­oned visa facilitati­on applies only to applicants who have been inoculated with COVID-19 vaccines produced in China (either having received two doses of Chinese-made vaccines with the stipulated gap in between, or having received a single-dose Chinese-made vaccine at least 14 days prior to the applicatio­n) and obtained the vaccinatio­n certificat­e. A proof of a negative COVID-19 nucleic acid test result and the health and travel record declaratio­n form for visa applicatio­n are no longer required,” read part of the notice from Commission­er of Foreign Affairs ministry in the Hong Kong special administra­tive region.

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 ??  ?? President Emmerson Mnangagwa
President Emmerson Mnangagwa

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