438 days of the COVID-19 Lockdown, and as of 9th of June 2021, the Ministry of Health and Child Care reported that, the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases had increased to 39 432 after 111 new cases were reported, all are local. The highest case tally was recorded in Mashonaland West with 40 cases. We note that the Hospitalisation rate as at 15:00hrs on the 8th of June 2021 were 75 hospitalised cases, 8 asymptomatic cases, 57 mild to moderate cases, 9 severe cases and 1 case in Intensive Care Units. Active cases go down to 893. The total number of recoveries went up to 36 917 increasing by 161 recoveries. The recovery rate remains at 93%. A total of 523 people received their 1st doses of vaccine. The cumulative number of the 1st dose vaccinated now stands at 689 920. A total of 4 651 recipients received their second dose bringing the cumulative number of 2nd dose recipients to 394 063. The death toll goes up to 1 622 after 5 deaths recorded.
We note the relaxation of the COVID-19 controls for the artistic community who may now conduct events which are under a 50-person audience.
We continue to urge the public to remain vigilant as we endure the third wave of COVID-19 in Zimbabwe. We urge communities to fight against the COVID fatigue and remember to keep their distance, wear masks properly and sanitise regularly. We draw attention to the rise in both infections and hospitalisations in the country and call for safety first as the country continues under relaxed COVID-19 controls.
Critical emerging issue
Substantive Leadership in Critical Ministry of Health and Child Care Posts
We highlight reports that 5 major hospitals in Zimbabwe have been operating for over a year without substantive chief executive officers (CEOs). This is compounded by the continuing usage of Acting Directors in various departments in the Ministry of Health and Child Care. We continue to decry the delayed resolution of the Ministry restructuring exercise which was purported to enhance operational efficiency, effectiveness and accountability.
- We urge the immediate substantive appointments to fill in the vacant positions within the Ministry of Health and Child Care, which includes other senior positions of technical leadership of the Ministry.
- We urge prompt replacements for the 5 hospital CEOs.
- We further call for the respect of gender parity in all appointments.
We continue to call for the appointment of gender experts at all levels of the COVID-19 response taskforce teams
Outstanding issue
Privatisation of COVID-19 Vaccines
We continue to highlight community reports of COVID-19 vaccines in the private sector in particular outside the ambit of the public sector which are being offered to desperate citizens under the counter or for exorbitant amounts.
We continue to reiterate that vaccines are a public good and their availability and accessibility is due to the public must be ring-fenced.
We are concerned with reports indicating that vaccines in the public sector are leaking into the private sector and this is fuelling the crisis on the shortage of vaccines.
- We urge the Parliament of Zimbabwe to exercise its mandate over the COVID-19 vaccine program
- We continue to call upon Government to adopt and maintain the highest quality levels of information dissemination and data sharing with the public.
- We amplify our calls for establishment of a Commission of Enquiry in 2021 on the management of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Zimbabwe.
Source: Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ)
