Communities raise awareness on vaccines

COMMUNITIES working with Heal Zimbabwe in Mashonaland Central, Masvingo and Manicaland provinces have established COVID-19 awareness teams as part of efforts to encourage communities to get vaccinated.

This resolution was adopted during a dialogue discussion on the impact of COVID-19 on peace-building organised by communities working with Heal Zimbabwe on July 25, 2021.

Participants noted that owing to a lack of awareness on the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines, there is rampant vaccine hesitancy in rural communities.

It was also revealed during the meetings that religious beliefs were some of the major hurdles standing in the way of the mass vaccination programme as most people have been advised by their religious leaders not to take the vaccine.

As part of a solution to vaccine hesitancy, participants resolved to set up COVID-19 teams to raise awareness on the need to be vaccinated.

These teams will be chaired by village health workers that will work hand-in-glove with local clinics and hospitals to gather correct and accurate information concerning vaccines.

Participants also resolved to monitor human rights observance during the COVID-19-induced lockdown as in the past there has been a spike in cases of gender-based violence (GBV) in local communities.

The meetings by Heal Zimbabwe are part of efforts to empower local communities to safeguard humans and also help build peaceful communities.

Heal Zimbabwe utilises various strategies to address conflicts in local communities.

One of these ways is the use of community dialogues, an initiative for communities to discuss and collectively identify ways through which they can proffer solutions to problems in their communities.

The platforms also equip communities with relevant information on COVID-19, GBV and human rights.

Such platforms also facilitate local level conversations on pertinent issues affecting communities as well as create socially cohesive communities.