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Muchaneta Chimuka

Senior Writer

CHITUNGWIZA Municipality’s City Health Department is now providing Covid -19 vaccinations for frontline workers and vulnerable residents.

The vulnerable groups including those with chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, heart, lung and liver conditions are among other people getting first priority as roll out continues.

All front line workers such as school staff, security personnel and people above 60 years of age and those living with HIV are also being prioritised.

The circulated notice reads: “As of now, vaccination services will be provided at the following clinics:

Seke North Clinic – Makoni, Seke South Clinic – Unit L, Zengeza Clinic and St Mary’s Clinic”.

“Vaccination does not replace other Covid-19 prevention measures, # Mask Up, # Keep physical distance, # Wash hands regularly with soap and water or use sanitisers”.

For more information about this vaccination programme, members of the public have been advised to contact the following people Matron Munyukwi 0772784967, Dr Kasu 0772375284, Mr Chiroodza 0712325502 and Mr Mukunya 0772634359.

Chitungwiza Town Council Director of Health Services, Dr Tonderai Kasu said currently the vaccination is moving on well.

“Yes, this is our notice. We are now offering vaccination to all adults above the age of 18 and vaccination is being offered in all council clinics,” he said.

Dr Kasu said people are responding well to the call for vaccination and council may need more vaccines as time goes on.

“The only challenge is that we are short staffed hence we have to give our staff some off days to rest since they have been working continuously,” he said.

The Director for Chitungwiza Residents Trust, Ms Alice Kuvheya said they are glad that the Government has decentralised the vaccination programme for the convenience of the public.

“We are glad the Covid-19 vaccination is now taking place in our town and that will ease the transport burden to Harare.  The major problem here is that most residents do not have enough information hence there are a lot of myths and misconceptions surrounding the vaccination in our community. Our wish is that the Government should lobby for an educational campaign to make sure that people are equipped with enough information especially from health experts,” she said.

She added that many people have become so reluctant and are not adhering to the World Health Organisation (WHO) Covid-19 Prevention Regulations such as social distancing, masking up and hand washing especially in public places such as boreholes and market places, which might fuel further disaster of new outbreaks if stern measures are not taken.

On April 12, four people lost their lives due to Covid-19 giving a total of 1542 deaths countrywide to date.

There are 864 active cases, 34 901 recoveries, and 34901 confirmed cases.