By Pretty Manyewe
Government’s impressive leadership acumen in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic has seen the country ranking eighth in Africa in terms of vaccination rollout programme.
Despite the sanctions that were illegally imposed on the country that have reduced the country’s economic growth rate over the years, government was not deterred in its quest to expeditiously acquire and administer the life-saving Covid-19 vaccines.
Government adopted an inward looking approach in raising funds for the acquisition of drugs and rollout of vaccination program to ensure herd immunity against the covid-19 virus.
In an interview snippet shared by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Nick Mangwana on his Twitter handle ahead of the publication of his Independence eve speech, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said,
“Many countries have received grants to fight against Covid-19 pandemic, others having received as much as billions and others not less than US$300 million. But because of the sanctions imposed on us we realised we are on our own and had to take necessary swift measures to protect our citizens from the pandemic.”
Government of Zimbabwe has since received 400000 doses of Sinopharm vaccines donated by the People’s Republic of China and the country has sorely procured over 2 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines comprising of the approved Sinovac and Sinopharm from China using internal resources.
The government also received a goodwill gesture of 35000 doses out of a donation of 75000 doses of the Covaxin vaccine from the friendly nation of India.
The government recently took delivery of 1.2 million doses of Sinovac vaccines purchased for US$12 million according to the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare.
Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube pledged government’s commitment to procure one million vaccine doses per month beginning April 2021.
The government’s goal of achieving herd immunity of over 60 per cent of its citizens is well within sight as more citizens embrace the vaccination program.
The vaccination program has seen 234709 people having received their first dose and 29304 receiving their second dose as of April 12.
Professor Mthuli Ncube, while addressing the press recently said, “The target is that in the second quarter every month starting from the end of April to end of June, a million will be arriving in the country which will be fully paid for. The Government has set aside US$ 100 million to facilitate the goal of herd immunity.”
The Government’s efforts in curbing the virus are highly noticeable as the nation’s recovery rate is at 94 percent with only 834 active cases and 34901 recoveries out of the cumulative 37307 positive cases recorded since the pandemic started.
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