585 days of the COVID-19 Lockdown, and as of 3 rd of November 2021, the Ministry of Health and Child Care reported that, the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases had increased to 133 091 after 44 new cases all local cases, were recorded. The highest case tally was recorded in Masvingo with 26 cases. We note that the Hospitalisation rate as at 15:00hrs on 2 November 2021 stood at 43 hospitalised cases: 7 New Admissions, 8 Asymptomatic cases, 24 mild-to-moderate cases, 4 severe cases and 4 cases in Intensive Care Units. A total of 10 467 people received their 1st doses of vaccine. The cumulative number of the 1st dose vaccinated now stands at 3 336 079. A total of 7 305 recipients received their second dose bringing the cumulative number of 2nd dose recipients to 2 618 101. Active cases went down to 578. The total number of recoveries went up to 127 829 increasing by 50 recoveries. The recovery rate remains at 96%. The death toll went up to 4 684, as there were 1 new death recorded.
Critical Emerging Issue
Prioritising Women workers in the Healthcare Sector
We continue to note the challenges facing the health sector, particularly in regards to conditions of service for the health care sector workers. We note that whilst various measures have been undertaken to address ongoing concerns, there is limited improvement in real terms for the conditions of critical essential service workers. We note further that as the leadership of the health sector is largely characterised by an over-representation of men thus resulting in skewed support for the women in the sector who constitute the bulk of healthcare workers in positions of nursing and other low-ranking positions. Consequently, the limitations in provision of housing, transport other support measures to alleviate the working conditions of health sector workers are leaving behind the majority of women health workers, who are ranking at the bottom of the sector.
- We call for specific allocation of resources and programs to address conditions of service for nurses directly in the 2022 National Budget.
- We call for engagement in progressive dialogue with workers in the healthcare sector with special regard for the conditions of the nursing force. Outstanding issues
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 healthcentres 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 This SITREP is developed by and through the collective network of organisational and individual members of the Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe who are engaged at community levels to national levels in the COVID-19 Zimbabwe. 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.
Source: Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe
