The battle against cholera in Zimbabwe has escalated into a full-blown effort to protect the population. In a recent development, the Government of Zimbabwe, in collaboration with UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO), launched an ambitious vaccination campaign to curb the spread of this deadly disease.
“The vaccination programme was kicked off at Kuwadzana, one of the most affected areas of the country’s current outbreak.”
The vaccination campaign is a crucial part of a comprehensive strategy aimed at preventing further outbreaks and safeguarding public health. The initiative was officially inaugurated by Health and Child Care Minister, Dr. Douglas Mombeshora, at Kuwadzana, a region severely impacted by the cholera epidemic.
“Zimbabwe has recorded more than 20,000 suspected cholera cases and over 400 confirmed and suspected deaths since the first cases were reported nearly a year ago.”
With more than 20,000 suspected cases and hundreds of fatalities attributed to cholera, Zimbabwe faced a grave public health crisis that demanded urgent action. The government’s response included collaborating with key international partners such as UNICEF and WHO to address the outbreak effectively.
As reported by [www.africahealthtimes.com], prompt treatment for infected individuals coupled with preventative measures like improved access to clean water, sanitation facilities, personal hygiene education, and targeted awareness campaigns played a pivotal role in containing the disease.
“One dose of vaccine protects against cholera infections for at least six months.”
Amid these efforts, Zimbabwe received its initial shipment of 892,286 doses of Euvichol-Plus vaccine from EuBiologics via air freight. This oral vaccine provides significant protection against cholera for up to six months after administration. Additional batches are scheduled for delivery to bolster vaccination coverage across high-risk districts within the country.
The scope of the cholera vaccination campaign is extensive as it aims to reach approximately 2.3 million individuals aged one year and older residing in 160 wards distributed across 26 high-risk districts spanning seven provinces. These regions have been identified as primary catalysts for sustaining the ongoing outbreak.
“WHO hailed the introduction of the cholera vaccine as another tool to prevent further spread but emphasized its supplementary nature alongside existing preventive measures.”
While WHO acknowledged the significance of introducing cholera vaccinations as an additional defense mechanism against infections, they underscored that these vaccines should complement rather than replace fundamental preventive actions like regular handwashing with clean water or using treated water for drinking purposes.
In conclusion,
the commitment demonstrated by Zimbabwe through this vaccination campaign reflects a proactive stance towards safeguarding public health and mitigating future risks associated with infectious diseases like cholera.
**Attribution:**
This article is based on information from [www.africahealthtimes.com].
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