CALL FOR RESPONSIBLE ACTIONS BY ZIMBABWEANS TO REDUCE COVID-19 STIGMA AS COUNTRY FIGHTS THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC.
The Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCOZ), representing non-partisan women’s rights organizations and activists in all the 10 provinces of Zimbabwe calls on general members of public, state and nonstate actors and duty bearers to ensure protection of communities, families and frontline health workers and to ensure protection of their Constitutional rights during this period.
Critical emerging areas:
As the 16th of April 2020, WCoZ is alarmed by the level of stigma of COVID-19 patients and the violation of their Constitutional right, with particular emphasis on the Bulawayo case of patient number 15. WCoZ is outraged by the stigmatization of Patient number 15 by various institutions and leadership in the country. The Coalition remains distressed that such actions fundamentally derail progress on the Nation’s collective efforts in fighting the spread of the disease and can lead to non-disclosure by those affected as well as delayed reaction in seeking health care. WCoZ therefore calls on the nation at large to desist from actions and messages that perpetuate stigma and urges the media to practice ethical journalism, avoiding in their reporting, actions that may increase COVID19-related stigma. Being COVID positive is not a criminal offense; all COVID patients including Patient number 15 are entitled to the full enjoyment and protection of Constitutional rights.
Stepping up protective gear for frontline responders:
With Zimbabwe having confirmed 23 Covid-19 cases including three deaths as at 16 April 2020, collective duty of care in the reality of COVID-19 is urgent. As with any disaster or crisis, frontline responders are at high risk and extra precautions for their safety should be taken to protect them and their families from contracting the virus. WCoZ therefore, calls upon Government to immediately redress the shortage of adequate safety gear for all front-line responders in both urban and rural areas with immediate effect so that their health is not compromised during this time of fighting a great pandemic especially as the lockdown is folding up. WCoZ has also noted with great concern that as at 15 April 2020, the Ministry of Health and Child Care had only managed to conduct 716 cumulative tests. While such efforts to decentralise COVID-19 testing centres in the country are appreciated, WCoZ still remains concerned that the general public has not been updated on progress in relation to tracing and monitoring of at least 13000 residents from South Africa and other High Risk Countries who were reported two weeks ago. WCoZ is highly concerned that to date Wilkins remains the only isolation centre for COVID-19 patients in Zimbabwe as the nation requires more such infrastructural support in this regard. While the lockdown is commendable as an effective solution to mitigating COVID-19, it must be supported by additional measures such as vigorous testing and early case detection so as never to repeat circumstances such as those of the COVID19 positive results which were only announced on the 7th April 2020, three days after the concerned patient was deceased. WCoZ therefore calls upon government to urgently initiate tracking and monitoring of contacts where cases have been noted and expediently furnish the public with statistics and information to enhance self-protection as well as follow up procedures.
Shelter
While appreciating Government efforts of setting up quarantine centres for homeless children and families in Harare, WCoZ urges the duty bearer to cascade this effort to the rest of the 10 provinces, as well as deliberately include the plight of People with Disability in the process.
Mealie-meal
WCoZ urges Government to look into the provision of the basic staple, mealie-meal, in a manner that enables citizens to observe social-distancing at the distribution centres and shops, in line with public health guidelines. Observations of women’s experiences in Harare (most shopping centres including Sam Levi, Zengeza 2) Bulawayo (Cowdray Park) and in Kariba, reflect the challenges of observing public health guidelines in the pursuit of access to basic commodities. WCoZ remains concerned about the health and safety of communities and front-line responders in the fight against COVID-19 and will continue to call attention to key priority areas.