With some Zimbabweans still grappling with Long COVID, Zimbabwe needs support to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 while strengthening its pandemic preparedness and response, a top Ministry of Health and Child Care official said on Wednesday.
By Kuda Pembere
Addressing a Catalysing COVID-19 Action (CCA) high level stakeholder meeting, Health and Child Care Ministry Permanent Secretary Dr Aspect Maunganidze represented by Epidemiology and Disease Control Director Dr Rudo Chikodzore said the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world at a time when most health systems were ill-prepared.
The Catalyzing COVID-19 Action (CCA) Project is a Unitaid- and FIND-Funded initiative, responding to the global COVID-19 pandemic was implemented by the Elizabeth Glazer Pediatric Aids Foundation (EGPAF) in Zimbabwe.
In March 2020, Zimbabwe recorded its first case of COVID-19 following the on-set of the COVID-19 global pandemic. Global healthcare systems were ill-prepared to deal with a pandemic of this magnitude and Zimbabwe was mot speared. COVID-19 exposed the vulnerability of the health care system,” the Health Ministry permanent secretary said.
Dr Maunganidze said through implementing the CCA program, they noted the importance of fortifying the country’s preparedness and response against pandemics.
“The lessons learnt by the Ministry of Health and Child Care and EGPAF in implementing the Catalysing COVID-19 Action highlighted the need for further support to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and strengthen pandemic preparedness and response. Leveraging the resources and activities that EGPAF was conducting with the Ministry of Health and Child Care under the CCA project as well as key priorities identified by the ministry, EGPAF received additional resources through the DELTA-2 mechanism.
“The purpose of this award is to provide comprehensive and cost effective technical support, capacity strengthening and program implementation and Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria (GFATM) and emerging health threats COVID-19 and preserve the gains made in strengthening health systems commissioned multi country projects. The Delta 2 funding is adaptable to the needs highlighted by the specific Global Fund mechanisms,” he said.
EGPAF country director Dr Lillian Chinyanganya said under the CCA fund, they managed to establish a Long Covid Clinic to provide treatment for those with Long COVID. She said they also contributed much through the CCA towards diagnostics, treatment, and regulatory pathways in the country’s COVID-19 response.
“With the support of UNITAID through the Ministry of Health and Child Care EGPAF supported the national COVID-19 pandemic response under the CCA project. Since October 2021, the project has been working to accelerate access to novel solutions in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic mainly through testing, supporting isolation care and treatment approaches to meet the needs of our people. Through the project, we had significant investments in diagnostics, therapeutics, evidence generation, community and multistakeholder mobilization, also strengthening the capacity of healthcare workers for an effective response,” she said.
The Long COVID -19 Clinic at Wilkins Hospital with an intergration of therapeutic and mental health experts according to Dr Chinyanganya was established early this year.
