Zimbabwe launches nationwide cholera vaccination campaign

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 **Zimbabwe launches nationwide cholera vaccination campaign**

*Chiwara Lawson*


Zimbabwe has launched a nationwide cholera vaccination campaign to protect over 2 million people from the waterborne disease that has killed hundreds of people since early last year.


The campaign,  which started on Wednesday in Zaka District, is led by the Ministry of Health and Child Care in collaboration with UNICEF, WHO, and GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance. It aims to cover 160 wards within 26 high-risk districts in seven provinces: Harare, Mashonaland West, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland Central, Manicaland, Masvingo, and Midlands.

Areas being covered in Zaka District are Fuve, Zibwowa, Chiredzana, Machiva, Veza and Nemauku which are some of the water borne hotspots in the district.


The cholera vaccine used in Zimbabwe is the Euvichol-Plus vaccine, produced by EuBiologics. It is an oral vaccine that is administered by mouth. One dose of vaccine protects against cholera infections for a period of at least six months.


The main operational strategy used in this campaign is house-to-house to minimize gatherings and further spread of the disease. This is complemented by fixed vaccination points in all health facilities within the catchment area. Each vaccination team is composed of three people, expected to vaccinate an average of 150 persons per day.


The cholera vaccination campaign is an additional measure the government is taking to contain the spread of cholera in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe has recorded more than 20,000 suspected cholera cases and more than 400 confirmed and suspected deaths, since the first cases were recorded nearly a year ago. About half of the cases have involved children.


The government has also implemented a multisectoral cholera response plan that focuses on streamlining response coordination at all levels, treatment of infected people, and prevention of the spread of the disease through improved access to safe water, sanitation, personal and food hygiene, and the dissemination of preventive messages to the population most at risk.


The introduction of the cholera vaccine is another tool to prevent the further spread of the disease, said the Health and Child Care Honorable Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora.


The cholera vaccine campaign in Zimbabwe is expected to last for two weeks and will target people aged one year old and above. The government has urged the public to participate in the campaign and to continue practicing good hygiene and sanitation to prevent cholera and other diseases.

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