President Emmerson Mnangagwa has urged churches to ensure that all their members get their children vaccinated against diseases such as measles and polio.
He made the call while addressing ZANU PF supporters at Beaulieu Primary School in Mutasa South last week on Saturday. The President said:
<blockquote>
There are so many churches in the country and we work very well with them, especially the indigenous ones which preach the gospel of unity and love.
There is no church that we say is bigger than the other, even those with foreign origins.
While we work well with the indigenous churches, we tend to disagree with them over the issue of seeking medical attention for their children.
Tinozongopesana kana vati havajungwi, tinoti kwavari ah-ah, jungwai. We want lives to be saved regardless of our religious beliefs.
</blockquote>
A measles outbreak hit Mutasa District early this year and the virus has spread across the country.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care has since rolled out a nationwide measles vaccination programme targeting 95 percent of all children between the ages of six months and five years. | <a href="https://www.manicapost.co.zw/no-excuses-on-vaccination-president/">The Manica Post</a>

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Mnangagwa Urges Indigenous Church Members To Get Their Children Immunised

The Government is struggling to vaccinate children against a measles outbreak in Mutasa District due to religious beliefs and topography.
At least 20 children have died, while more than 100 others have been infected by measles in the eastern part of the country. Mutasa District Medical Officer (DMO), Cephas Fonte, said:
<blockquote>
Mutasa is a mountainous area, so some areas are hard to reach. We have some of our friends who are religious objectors, so it has been hard to break through to them, though they are slowly responding now.
I think by the end of next week, we would have achieved something.
</blockquote>
Dr Alex Gasasira heads the World Health Organization’s country office in Zimbabwe said:
<blockquote>
The vaccine is the best prevention. We are also strengthening surveillance, ensuring parents, and community members are aware and they report any child who has any symptoms suggesting measles.
We are also ensuring that opportunities for vaccination are enhanced. This we should do throughout the country not just in the affected communities because we know that measles is very, very transmissible; it spreads very, very fast.
</blockquote>
Tariro Mhando, a public health officer from the University of Zimbabwe had this to say:
<blockquote>
What we found out is most cases, the deaths that were recorded are not vaccinated and we have most cases in unvaccinated as well.
And only the few that have [been vaccinated] have mild symptoms.
</blockquote>
Measles is a viral infection that’s serious for small children that spreads through the air by respiratory droplets produced from coughing or sneezing.
Measles symptoms don’t appear until 10 to 14 days after exposure. They include cough, runny nose, inflamed eyes, sore throat, fever and a red, blotchy skin rash.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.voanews.com/a/religious-beliefs-terrain-hampering-measles-immunization-program-in-zimbabwe/6574199.html">VOA Zimbabwe</a></h4>

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