Beverly Bizeki
For 22 year-old Netsai Shoko (not real name) accessing health services in her neighbourhood for free is something she appreciates as it serves her money for travelling and paying for the services.
Shoko, who is afraid of letting her mother know that she is sexually active and is on contraceptives, is happy that the Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) has brought some of these services closer to home, sparing her the hustle of having to go to the clinic to get the injection.
These are some of the challenges that young women and girls face when accessing Sexual Reproductive Health services; fear of being judged by parents and close relatives especially when they are not married.
As the world celebrates World Immunisation Week slated for April 24 to 30, this year the week was celebrated under the theme ‘the big catch up’ and the CWGH Masvingo chapter combined the celebrations with the World Health Day celebrated on April 7 under the theme ‘Health for all’.
The celebrations were held in ward 3 Masvingo Urban where residents had access to various health services including Covid-19 vaccination, family planning services and HIV testing.
CWGH Masvingo chairperson Entrance Takaedza said the group had partnered with the Ministry of Health and Masvingo City Council in spreading information and providing health services to residents.
“As we have gathered here to commemorate the World Health Day and World Immunisation Week, we are pleased by the huge turnout of residents to get the Covid-19 vaccination and other health services for free.
“Our community monitors trained by CWGH are into researching about vaccines and other diseases affecting our communities so as to better inform the government on issues concerning health in the communities for policy making,” said Takaedza.
Ward 3 councillor Rocky Kamuzonda expressed gratitude to CWGH and other partners for bringing health services to the residents.
“I am grateful for various stakeholders who have brought their services to locals for free which is a helpful exercise for those who cannot bring themselves to seek medical attention,” said Kamuzonda.
According to a report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in April, the goal of the immunization week is to get more people protected from vaccine preventable diseases.
“2023 is our global opportunity to catch-up on lost progress in essential immunization. We need to reach the millions of children who missed out on vaccines, restore essential immunization coverage to at least 2019 levels, strengthen primary health care to deliver immunization and build lasting protection in communities and countries.
“The goal of World Immunization Week is for more children, adults and their communities–to be protected from vaccine-preventable diseases, allowing them to live happier, healthier lives,” read part of the report.
