THE Oral Cholera Vaccination (OVC) Campaign in Mwenezi District has commenced as stakeholders from Government departments convened and agreed on January 29th to initiate the exercise last week.
Scheduled to run until February 4, 2024, the campaign will focus on areas including Ward 2, 4, and 13 (Chimbudzi, Nehanda, Rutenga, Lundi, and Chingwizi respecgtively), targeting a population of 58,036.
The district reports cumulative cases at 140, with 11 deaths and 129 recoveries to date, since the first outbreak recorded on November 30, 2023.
The District Development Co-ordinator, Isaac Mutambara, emphasised the significance of this final intervention in halting the spread of cholera, urging all communities to participate earnestly in the vaccination programme.
“The OVC is the final intervention that will close tap on the spread of cholera,” he said.
Dr Itai Matibiri, the District Medical Officer, as the Lead Medical Officer for the Ministry of Health and Child Care in Mwenezi District, is supported by various Government bodies and non-governmental organisations. Government institutions include the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, District Councillors, Rural Infrastructure Development Agency, Mwenezi Rural District Council, Ministry of Youth, Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, and Mwenezi Development Training Centre, all demonstrating their support for the campaign.
Among the NGOs supporting the programme is Score Against Poverty, which is undertaking cholera response measures in Mwenezi, with the funding from the Canadian Embassy in Zimbabwe.
The interventions include support through providing PPE material for treatment centres, support with the provision of water reserviors for CTCs.– Rural Communication Services.
Source New Ziana
