Zimbabwe Steps Up Disease Surveillance at Borders Through Epidemiologist Training
By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe has strengthened its frontline disease surveillance capacity with the graduation of 44 health workers from the Zimbabwe Field Epidemiology Training Programme (ZimFETP). The three-month training targeted officers stationed at ports of entry and epidemiologists working within city health departments, equipping them with practical skills to detect, investigate, and respond swiftly to
Read MoreAfrica’s Cholera Crisis Demands Continental Action
By Michael Gwarisa Africa is currently battling five major infectious disease outbreaks: Mpox, Measles, Dengue, Lassa Fever, and Cholera. Among these, Cholera has emerged as the deadliest, quietly eclipsing the rest in scale and lethality. Yet, despite its heavy toll, it remains under-prioritized. In 2024, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC)
Read MoreZimbabwe records more than 95% measles vaccination coverage in Apostolic sects
FOLLOWING a measles outbreak that spread throughout the country in 2022, killing and infecting mainly unvaccinated children from apostolic sects in Zimbabwe, the country has witnessed an increase in coverage for measles vaccination in apostolic groups. By Michael Gwarisa The measles outbreak was first recorded in Mutasa District in Manicaland Province where several unvaccinated children
Read MoreMeasles kills 750 children under five: Amnesty International
MEASLES killed over 750 children under the age of five in Zimbabwe last year, an Amnesty International (AI) report states. By Kuda Pembere With more than half of the deaths being community deaths mainly from from Manicaland province, the Measles virus spread to other parts of the country killing manly unvaccinated children. The first case
Read MoreNearly 40 million children are dangerously susceptible to growing measles threat
Measles vaccination coverage has steadily declined since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, a record high of nearly 40 million children missed a measles vaccine dose: 25 million children missed their first dose and an additional 14.7 million children missed their second dose, a joint publication by the World Health Organization (WHO) and
Read MoreGovernment must intensify measles awareness and vaccination campaigns
The Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) has urged the government to intensify measles vaccination and awareness campaigns to prevent further deaths as the highly contagious disease continues to claim lives countrywide. By Staff Reporter In a statement, CWGH Executive Director, Mr Itai Rusike said, “…the worrying statistics from the Ministry of Health and Child
Read MoreUNICEF is concerned about the impact of measles outbreak
UNICEF is deeply concerned with the numbers of cases and deaths among children due to a measles outbreak in Zimbabwe. By Dr. Tajudeen Oyewale, UNICEF Representative in Zimbabwe On 10 April 2022, Mutasa District in Manicaland Province was the first district to report a measles outbreak. According to the latest data shared by the Government
Read MoreWHO Urges Previously Vaccinated Children below 5 Years To Get Measles Vaccines
THE World Health Organisation (WHO) Country Representative, Dr Alex Gasasira has advised parents to take their children for vaccination regardless of their previous vaccination status. By Catherine Murombedzi The call comes in the midst of a raging Measles outbreak that since claimed 698 lives and infected a cumulative total of 6 291 Cases, while 4
Read MoreZimbabwe Measles Deaths Toll Nears 700…Community Deaths Constitute Largest Number of Deaths
A cumulative 698 Deaths have been reported since the onset of the outbreak with more than half of the deaths having been reported in Manicaland province. By Staff Reporter According to the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) Daily Measles Situation Report (SITREP), 172 New Cases and 13 Deaths were reported yesterday. “The deaths
Read MoreMake measles vaccination mandatory for Mapostori Children -VP Chiwenga told
HEALTH Policy and Public Health experts have advised health and child care Minister, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga to act with speed and make measles vaccination mandatory in children from apostolic sects. By Michael Gwarisa This call comes in the midst of a sharp increase in new measles cases and deaths mainly in children between the
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