584 days of the COVID-19 Lockdown, and as of 2nd of November 2021, the Ministry of Health and Child Care reported that, the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases had increased to 133 047 after 40 new cases all local cases, were recorded. The highest case tally was recorded in Masvingo with 15 cases. We note that the Hospitalisation rate as at 15:00hrs on 1 November 2021 remained at 43 hospitalised cases: 6 New Admissions, 11 Asymptomatic cases, 27 mild-to-moderate cases, 4 severe cases and 1 cases in Intensive Care Units. A total of 8 602 people received their 1st doses of vaccine. The cumulative number of the 1st dose vaccinated now stands at 3 325 612. A total of 10 343 recipients received their second dose bringing the cumulative number of 2nd dose recipients to 2 610 796. Active cases went up to 585. The total number of recoveries went up to 127 779 increasing by 54 recoveries. The recovery rate remains at 96%. The death toll went up to 4 683, as there were 4 new deaths recorded.
Critical Emerging Issue
Ensuring Vaccine Access and Equity in Zimbabwe
We highlight concerns regarding the reporting on the data of the vaccination-drive. . We are concerned by the lack of publication of data in regards to districts that have received support, in particular, the rural and health- centres and disadvantaged communities. We stress that the status of the national vaccination programme, whilst meeting milestones must also be responsive to the needs and expectations of local Zimbabweans and their experiences. We are aware of efforts to target border communities directly, however reports from our networks, indicate significant pockets in those communities still being left behind. We are concerned by the lack of publication of the gender disaggregated data by district to advise the nation and the health sector at large, on key areas of focus and support, in order to ensure vaccine equity within the country. We further emphasise the need to interrogate clear gender dynamics arising from the chaos and congestion at vaccination centres which appear to be leaving women behind due to rigidities and inflexibilities in the system. In the same breadth, we are continually concerned that despite the procurement process of vaccines being much advertised, the realities on the ground continue to raise inconsistencies in supplies and shortages of vaccines in communities.
- We call for a national report with clear gender disaggregated data on vaccine distribution and access per District.
- We urge the publication of data in regards to Districts that have received support, in particular, the rural and health centres and disadvantaged communities.
- We call for announcement and implementation of measures to ensure that border communities and hard to reach, remote communities receive expanded access to vaccines.
Outstanding Issues
Extension of Lockdown
We note the extension of the Zimbabwean lockdown at level two measures for an additional two weeks. We commend the past two-week period which has resulted in an average of 45 recorded cases per day with the death rate now averaging 1 death per day. We continue to call for stricter adherence to mandatory mask wearing and social distancing practices which have all but fallen away as per a national snap survey conducted by our community monitors. We remain concerned at the risks of a fourth wave of infections if communities do not increase their pace of vaccination versus ensuring greater usage of infection control measures.
- We call for the announcement of the processes and deciders of the lockdown exist measures that Zimbabwe will undertake so as to ensure a gradual exist of lockdown and high levels of infection control.
Source: Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe
