The Sunday Mail
Veronica Gwaze
CHITUNGWIZA has the highest number of children that were recently vaccinated against typhoid, polio and cervical cancer.
The campaign ran from May 24 to June 3 across the country.
Vaccines were administered nationally at municipality clinics, Chitungwiza Central Hospital, Citmed Hospital, Zimbabwe Republic Police camp clinics, Manyame 24hr Medical Centre, primary and secondary schools and various community outreach points.
For inactivated polio vaccine, Chitungwiza Municipality’s coverage rate was 91 percent, while they managed 83,6 percent and 91,1 percent for vitamin A and typhoid conjugate vaccine (TCV), respectively.
The municipality also emerged top after surpassing its targeted 40 000 girls for Human Papillomavirus Vaccine (HPV), with 91,9 percent on HPV1 and 146,9 percent on HPV2.
HPV is meant to prevent girls from strains that cause most cervical cancers in women.
Chitungwiza Town Council director of health services Dr Tonderai Kasu said the TCV was administered to children aged between nine months and 15 years, while the HPV was given to Grade Five, Six and Seven girls.
“Last year, some girls received their first dose, so this time we gave them the second one for full protection and they are part of the 40 000,” said Dr Kasu.
“As Chitungwiza, we reached the highest coverage rate nationally in all doses; in some areas, even exceeding our targeted figures.
“Our target population was based on 2019 statistics, so the fact that we exceeded the figure might mean that not only did we manage to cover the eligible vaccine participants but we exceeded into the surrounding areas, including Seke communal lands and others.”
He also commended the school-based rollout strategy.
“The fact that we were actively going into schools means we covered a wide population because our schools in Chitungwiza do not only accommodate learners the local areas, but also from surrounding areas. This means we were able to expand the catchment area for the campaign. I commend our Chitungwiza staff for working so well to deliver under tough conditions to emerge top in the nation; it means a lot.”
