The government of Zimbabwe has successfully reduced the frequency and magnitude of infectious diseases with the last polio case reported 25 years ago, Minister of Health and Child Care has said.
In his speech read by Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals Chief Executive Officer, Mr Thomas Zigora, Minister of Healthy and Child Care, Dr David Parirenyatwa said that reports of such diseases are now at low level with some at zero point.
“The country has managed to reduce frequency and magnitude of measles outbreak. The last measles outbreak was experienced in 2010. No case of polio has been reported since 1991 also neonatal tetanus has been sustained at less than 1 per 1000 live births.
“Rota viral diarrhea infections, whopping cough, pneumococcal infections, and homophiles infections have been on the decline,” he said.
This came at the induction of members of Zimbabwe National Immunization Technical Advisory Group, (ZIMNITAG) held in Harare on Friday last week.
He added, “Since the launching of this programme in 1981, the programme is performing well providing vaccines against Tuberculosis, Poliomyelitis, Diphtheria, among other diseases
Speaking at the same occasion, World Health Representative to Zimbabwe, Dr David Okello congratulated the Ministry of Health and Child Care and the expanded program on immunization for the achievement pledging to keep on providing support to the country.
“I would like to congratulate ministry of health for this great achievement. It is my hope that WHO and other partners will continue to provide much needed support in Zimbabwe to continue working with you in advancing health services provision in the country,” said Dr Okello.
Munya Dimairo / December 5, 2016
Hi Shorai,
Thanks for the interesting article. However, I find the headline dangerously misleading. First, recording of no polio cases doesn’t necessarily mean eradication of infectious diseases. Second and similarly, decline in cases or incidences doesn’t imply eradication. Infectious disease is a broad term and we will never eradicate it. When you eradicate one type of infectious disease another emerge at some point so it would be helpful to correct the headline! With thanks, Munya
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