Talent Gore
THE uptake of oral cholera vaccines (OCVs) has reached 90 percent in targeted districts since the onset of the campaign on January 29.
Cholera Incidence Manager in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Dr Isaac Phiri, yesterday said a total of 697 550 people have been vaccinated from the initial batch, with Harare seeing 239 113 people vaccinated.
The vaccines can be given to people aged one year and above, including pregnant women.
Dr Phiri said over the last month, there has been a decline in cases of cholera in Chitungwiza, Harare, Buhera and Mutare rural.
There has, however, been a recent increase of cases in the capital.
“As we have predicted that by the end of March, the cases may not be a public health issue, especially with the roll out of the vaccination.
“We are seeing a decline in cases.
“Daily cases were hovering over 200, but in the last few days, we are seeing around 130 to 150 cases being recorded.”
He added:
“For example, in Harare yesterday they were doing a mop up campaign because they used all the vaccines that were distributed.
“We are looking at 89 to 90 percent uptake so far in the targeted areas that we have gone into.
“In Harare, 239 113 people have so far been vaccinated in Kuwadzana, 1, 2 and 4, and in the Paddock area, in Budiriro as well as in Glen View 3 which are the traditional cholera hotspots.
“The recent batch of 93 150 will be deployed in Mutare and other districts that are still recording new cases,” he said.
Dr Phiri said people were coming forward to receive the vaccine.
“The vaccines we received on Monday were for Mutare rural, so from today we will start to receive updates from Mutare rural and urban as well as Chimanimani.
“A lot of interventions have taken place in terms of cholera response and we have probably started to see the effect of the current vaccination programme in the areas.”
