By Staff Reporter
The Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) has called for Government to increase the number of vaccine doses given the available ones only provide protection against the cholera epidemic Zimbabwe is seized with.
With Zimbabwe targeting to vaccinate 2.3 million people, the CWGH feels they are not enough as the country’s population stands at 15 million.
“The government recently launched the campaign aimed at immunizing over 2 million people against the water-borne disease, amid an outbreak that has killed over 500 people and infected at least 20 000 others since last year.
“Vaccination does not only protect the one vaccinated but it also prevents the spreading of the diseases to other people in the community. The disease is spread by contaminated food or water and spreads faster in crowded areas with poor sanitation facilities.
“However, although the campaign is a noble idea it is a short-term measure as it uses the Euvichol-Plus vaccine, which is administered orally and protects against cholera infections for at least six months.
“This then calls for the government to find a lasting solution to the problem, which has frequently occurred in the country in the past decade.
“The vaccines that the country received from donors will make a difference, but are inadequate given the high intensity of the disease that has already spread all over the country, with a population of 15 million people,” CWGH Executive Director Itai Rusike said in a statement.
He added that water and sanitation services must be provided for particularly in hotspot zones.
“There is therefore need to avail more vaccines to enable the country to achieve herd immunity so that all communities can be protected. CWGH would like to make it clear that vaccination alone will not stop future outbreaks and therefore we urge the government to prioritise the provision of sustainable water and sanitation services, starting with hotspot areas in both rural and urban areas.
“People need access to portable water, standard accommodation and provision of hygienic living conditions to avoid the spread of diseases like cholera, typhoid, measles and diarrhea.
“While we applaud the government for putting preventative measures such as restricting public gatherings and food vending and monitoring of burials in cholera affected areas, we feel such measures must be complimented by empowering communities with accurate information on the causes, symptoms, prevention and treatment measures. There is need for the holding of awareness campaigns across the country to ensure no one is left behind,” Mr Rusike said.
Mr Rusike said, “t should be pointed out that water, sanitation and hygiene efforts are much more effective when people are aware of the risks as well as what they can do to prevent illness. In addition, those in high-risk areas need to know what to do if they or their family members become ill with cholera.
“Hygiene promotion efforts should be coordinated and multi-sectoral with the communities taking centre-stage. It is total abdication of duty by government to leave communities relying on unprotected shallow wells for drinking water while some urban areas go for months without running water in their homes.”
He urged the government to improve its surveillance, control and management procedures.
“Government should therefore urgently strengthen its surveillance, control and management procedures to avoid an explosion of the disease in other areas. This also calls on the government to roll-out serious awareness and vaccination campaigns countrywide, including engaging leaders of health objectors including religious groups.
“It is only through reaching out to religious leaders, who command a lot of respect and influence among their congregants that the majority of their followers can agree to get vaccinated against the disease. Informative messages and materials should be printed and distributed where community members who are at risk can access them,” Mr Rusike added.
The cholera vaccination campaign ends Friday in Harare.
