The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
THE Provincial Medical Director, Dr Munyaradzi Mukuzunga, has expressed concern over the low uptake of Covid-19 vaccination and testing in Manicaland, following the announcement by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that the virus is no longer a public health threat emergency.
Speaking during a courtesy call from journalists from across the country at his office this morning, Dr Mukuzunga said despite Manicaland having the highest percentage of vaccinated people in the country, the number of people willing to get vaccinated and tested has been declining in recent months.
The visit was meant to get the provincial overview on RMNCHA, Covid-19 response (vaccination) as well as Community Results Based Financing.
Dr Mukuzunga bemoaned the low numbers of people visiting health facilities to get tested for Covid-19, especially during the winter season when the virus is prevalent.
“Covid-19 is a flu and it usually hits during the winter season and that is the challenge that we are facing currently. People have become complacent following the announcement by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that the virus is no longer a public health threat emergency. People no longer want to be tested for Covid-19,” said Dr Mukuzunga.
He said currently, the province is recording a maximum of two positive cases a day and that the cases could be lower if people visit health facilities to get tested and receive help.
He, however, applauded the province on its response to Covid-19.
“We have done well as a province in terms of fighting Covid-19. All of our districts are well above 70 percent vaccination in terms of the first two doses but it seems to have halted as people have now relaxed due to WHO’s declaration that the virus is no longer a public threat,” he said.
In its response to the virus, Manicaland vaccinated part of its population with support through the Zimbabwe COVID-19 Emergency Response Project (ZCERP) with funding support from The World Bank
The visit was organised by Cordaid and the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
