612 days of the COVID-19 Lockdown, and as of 30th December 2021, the Ministry of Health and Child Care reported that, the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases had increased to 134 625 after 399 new cases all local cases, were recorded. The highest case tally was recorded in Mat North with 11 cases. We note that the Hospitalisation rate data as at 15:00hrs on 29 November 2021, 29 hospitalised cases: 3 New Admissions, 1 Asymptomatic case, 22 mild-to -moderate cases, 4 severe cases and 2 cases in Intensive Care Units. A total of 13 363 people received their 1st doses of vaccine. The cumulative number of the 1st dose vaccinated now stands at 3 794 549. A total of 12 076 recipients received their second dose bringing the cumulative number of 2nd dose recipients to 2 816 543. Active cases go up to 1 171. The total number of recoveries went up to 128 747 increasing by 44 recoveries. The recovery rate remains at 96%. The death toll goes up 4 707 after 1 new death was recorded.
Today, we join the rest of the world in commemorating World AIDS Day. We highlight the urgent need to end the inequalities that drive AIDS and other pandemics around the world. We emphasize that the COVID-19 pandemic is exacerbating inequities and disruptions to services, making the lives of many people living with HIV more challenging during COVID-19. As such, we call upon Government and stakeholders to rally together and confront the inequalities that drive HIV/AIDS and adopt robust comprehensive measures to ensure undisrupted access to essential HIV services, even during lockdowns.
Critical Emerging Issue
Scaling up preventative measures in the education communities
We are concerned with numerous reports of outbreaks of COVID-19 in various educational communities in the country. We raise concern as school pupils are commencing their ZIMSEC, Grade 7, O-Level and A-Level exams, which require them to attend physically in their large numbers.
- We urge strengthening of vaccination system in schools and other tertiary institutions.
- We continue to emphasise on the need to prioritise the safety of learners together with their teachers and supporting staff within the education sector.
- We urge that support measures schools be expedited with notable priority support to schools in rural communities with significant water and sanitation limitations.
- We urge a robust infection monitoring and reporting system in schools and other tertiary institution.
Outstanding issues
Inequalities laid bare during COVID-19
Despite the relaxation of the lockdown measures, we bring to the fore the inequalities that have either been either laid bare or exacerbated by COVID-19 and the lockdowns. In particular, we highlight the gendered financial equality gaps due to socio-economic impacts of COVID-19, especially on that the majority of women in Zimbabwe and women-led households who continue to face the biggest impacts in food security, income loss, and care-giving burdens. We re-emphasize the need for prioritization of women’s access to social safety nets during COVID-19, taking due cognisance of the fact that a majority of women in the informal sector, such as the cross- border traders, have suffered severe loss of livelihoods due to the many lockdowns imposed since March 2020.
- We call for the prioritisation of adequate funding of National Social Protection Policy Framework
- We reinforce our calls for the provision of support for households who are no longer able to sustain themselves due to loss of livelihoods, especially women-led households.
Source: Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe
