ZIMBABWE’S health sector, which is reeling from several challenges, has made significant strides in dealing with threats to heath service delivery, an annual report from the World Health Organisation has said.
Earlier this year, Zimbabwe recorded a surge in cholera cases that reached critical levels necessitating urgent intervention, while it also confirmed cases of Mpox virus.
However, the country surpassed a four million target during polio vaccination programmes using the novel oral polio vaccine type.
According to WHO representative in Zimbabwe Desta Tiruneh, the country navigated 2024 with determination and resilience, responding to urgent health threats while laying the foundation for long-term system transformation.
“The cholera outbreak that challenged communities across the country tested the capacities of our health infrastructure, but it also revealed the strength of national co-ordination and response mechanisms to contain the outbreak and protect lives,” he said in a recent report.
Zimbabwe recorded 34 550 cholera cases and 719 deaths from February 2023 to August last year.
“As a result of coordinated technical support and targeted interventions, the national cholera case fatality rate dropped from 13,7% (August 2023) to 1,2% (June 2024),” the report read.
Three successful rounds of polio outbreak response were carried out using the oral polio vaccine type Z (nOPVZ), reaching over 13 million children under 10 years old, with vaccination coverage exceeding 109% in each round.
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“These campaigns, conducted in schools, homes, health facilities and via mobile clinics, were instrumental in protecting communities and maintaining Zimbabwe's polio-free status,” Tiruneh said.
Although progress was made, challenges remained, including children in remote areas who were not fully vaccinated, vaccine hesitancy among the elite and religious groups, other health emergencies like Mpox, Cholera and measles, limited staff and fatigue, as well as funding shortage for routine immunisation and community outreach.
“These milestones, alongside progress in service delivery, emergency preparedness, digital health and public health promotion, reflect the enduring partnership between WHO, the Ministry of Health and Child Care, and a wide array of committed partners,” the report said.
Meanwhile, WHO Zimbabwe is also focused on strengthening maternal and newborn health systems, aimed at promoting adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights, and enhancing data systems to ensure targeted, equitable service delivery across the life course.
“To combat postpartum haemorrhage, a leading cause of maternal deaths, Zimbabwe adopted the WHO E-MOTIVE bundle, which emphasises early recognition and bundled treatment,” the report read.
