445 days of the COVID-19 Lockdown, and as of 16th of June 2021, the Ministry of Health and Child Care reported that, the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases had increased to 40 556 after 238 new cases were reported, all local. The highest case tally was recorded in Mashonaland West with 105 cases. Localised lockdown remains in effect in Kariba, Karoi and Kwekwe. The following areas are noted as COVID-19 hotspots namely; Masvingo District, Mt Darwin, Chiredzi in Masvingo Province, and in Bulawayo Nkulumane, Emakhandeni and Northern Suburbs, Mhangura with the addition of Chinhoyi and Chidamoyo in Mashonaland West.
We note that the Hospitalisation rate as at 15:00hrs on the 15th of June 2021 were 96 hospitalised cases, 7 asymptomatic cases, 73 mild to moderate cases, 13 severe cases and 3 cases in Intensive Care Units. We note several Hospitals in, Masvingo, Midlands, Matebeleland North and Matabeleland South did not report. Active cases went up to 1 841. The total number of recoveries went up to 37 075 increasing by 19 recoveries. The recovery rate remains at 92%. A total of 2 669 people received their 1st doses of vaccine. The cumulative number of the 1st dose vaccinated now stands at 697 399. A total of 724 recipients received their second dose bringing the cumulative number of 2nd dose recipients to 423 474. The death toll goes up to 1 640 after 3 new deaths were recorded.
Critical emerging issues
Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) in Children
We highlight the Humanitarian Report by UNICEF issued today, in particular we seek to draw attention to the results of the Nutrition Cluster, which is led UNICEF and co-led by GOAL which supports the strengthening of structures at national level and facilitates cluster coordination meetings, which are chaired by the Ministry of Health and Child Care since January 2021.
We note with concern that, screening for malnutrition in 32 priority Districts has continued with the following results, for the period January to May 2021, that, an average of 230,219 children aged 6-59 months representing 55% of the number of children due to be screened in the selected district 16% / 3,641 children (2,003 girls and 1,638 boys) of the children presented with, and treated for, severe wasting.
We note that the resurgence of Severe Acute Malnutrition in Zimbabwe has been exacerbated by the negative implications on access to food and good nutrition for children brought about by COVID-19 restrictions and limited ameliorative programmes in real time for affected communities.
- Whilst we note the improvement of food security following the current on-going “bumper harvest”, we continue to call upon Government to step up efforts to provide support to communities in the 32 priority districts.
- We continue to call for Government to provide support to urban communities who are not able to secure agrarian support even during the harvest season to combat the rise hunger in urban communities.
- We continue to decry the very weak and appalling support systems to households in crisis, despite the presence of 2 cycles of budget surpluses including the current $9.5 billion budget surplus.
Critical Outstanding Issue
Monitoring of Variants in Zimbabwe
We note with concern reports indicating that South Africa our largest trading partner is presently recording and tracing over 30 variants of note, and we are alive to the fact that this has implications for both Zimbabwe and South Africa in regards to measures to contain COVID-19. Whilst we are fully aware of the continuing measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in Zimbabwe, in particular travel-related containment measures, we continue to seek an update regarding the tracking and tracing of COVID-19 Variants of concern in currently in Zimbabwe. This update remains critical at this time to support the response mechanism of communities and the public to adherence to anti-COVID-19 measures.
We note the concerns of communities to the potential presence of the variant which has been identified in India and also the potential changes in the variants and mutations which were already circulating locally.
- We urge the Ministry of Health and Child Care to update on the current mutations and variants identified and in circulation in Zimbabwe
Source: Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ)
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