Government and the United Nations Childrens Fund (Unicef) have jointly introduced two life-saving vaccines against pneumonia and diarrhoea, as efforts to improve the countrys battered health sector gain momentum.
According to recent health reports, pneumonia and diarrhoea are ranked as the two biggest killers of children under the age of five in Zimbabwe.
Speaking at the launch of a $4,8 million health grant by Unicef and the Government of Zimbabwe on Friday, Unicef country representative Peter Salama said the two medicines were going to reduce child morbidity and mortality.
Pneumonia and diarrhoea are two of the biggest killers of children under the age of five in Zimbabwe, he said.
The introduction of the two life-saving vaccines (the Pneumococcal vaccine in July and the Rotavirus in 2014) against these diseases, is an important step towards ensuring child survival.
We are very excited about this development that would not have been possible without the unwavering support of partners such as the Government of Japan.
Deputy Minister of Health and Child Welfare Dr Douglas Mombeshora said the grant would ensure that every child in Zimbabwe has access to health. Immunisation is key to child survival.
The contribution from the Government of Japan will ensure that every child in Zimbabwe has access to vaccines. We value the continued support that Japan has been providing to the health sector for many years now, he said.
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He said the grant would benefit at least 5 000 children and women by the end of this year. Japanese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Yonezo Fukuda said: We are extremely proud as the Government of Japan for the contribution we have made to the health and social sectors of Zimbabwes economy.
