Harare, 26 September 2016 - The WHO Representative to Zimbabwe, Dr David Okello handed over to the Ministry of Health and Child Care 24 Land cruisers, and 9 refrigerated trucks for transporting vaccines in a move that will strengthen EPI surveillance and outreach services throughout the country. The vehicles, which are worth more than USD 1.3mil  and were procured on request from the Ministry of Health and Child Care using GAVI funds, were handed over at a colourful ceremony which was attended by the Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care, Honorable Aldrin Musiiwa, the GAVI Zimbabwe country manager Mr Cyril Nogier, and many Ministry of Health and Child Care senior officials from headquarters, provinces and districts, among others.

The ceremony included the signing of the handover documents, inspection of the vehicles that were parked in the WHO compound, and a light reception.

The 24 land cruisers will be deployed to the following districts to strengthen EPI surveillance and outreach services;  Chipinge, Makoni, Mutare, Mbire, Rushinga, Shamva, Chikomba, Goromonzi, Seke, Makonde, Mhondoro-Ngezi, Hurungwe, Masvingo, Mwenezi, Chivi, Lupane, Tsholotsho, Nkayi, Gwanda, Matobo, Mangwe, Gokwe North, Gokwe South, and Mberengwa. The 9 trucks will be deployed to the following provinces, Head Office, incorporating Harare Province, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland Central, Manicaland, Mashonaland West, Masvingo, Midlands, and Matebeleland North and South provinces.

In his handover speech, WR Zimbabwe, Dr David Okello said  he hoped that the vehicles will enable districts to be able to reach every child with immunization services in hard to reach areas, and that all  provinces will be able to transport their vaccines from the Central Vaccine Store  in the refrigerated trucks. He however, appealed to the Honorable Deputy Minister to ensure that the vehicles are insured, and used for their intended purpose. “We all know Zimbabwe has excellent immunization coverages, and we hope these vehicles will maintain or improve the current immunization coverage levels,” said Dr Okello.

The GAVI Zimbabwe Country Manager,  Mr Cyril Nogier also commended Zimbabwe for having excellent immunization coverages, and said GAVI takes pride in being a partner. He said the vehicles will complement the good work that is already being done and will hopefully translate to even better immunization coverage figures. “Zimbabwe is one of the countries with impressive immunization coverages, and it is our hope that these vehicles being handed over today will strengthen EPI surveillance and translate to even more impressive immunization coverages,” he said.

In his acceptance speech, the  Deputy Minister for Health and Child Care, Honorable Aldrin Musiiwa said he was honored to receive the vehicles on behalf of the Government of Zimbabwe and acknowledged WHO and GAVI’s support to Zimbabwe in the acquisition of vaccines and related supplies as well as immunization operational cash grants. He said the vehicles will be used to strengthen vaccine distribution and improve integrated outreach services in hard to reach communities. “The vehicles will facilitate availability of vaccines at service delivery levels at all times, and I assure you they will be put to their intended good use,” said Honorable Musiiwa. 

The same sentiments were also echoed by the EPI Manager, Mrs Gerede who said the vehicles will make sure that no child will be missed and no health centre will have a stock out of vaccines.

Zimbabwe has attained vaccination coverages of above 90% for Measles, BCG, OPV3, Pentavalent and PCV3. Besides attaining high vaccination coverage, Zimbabwe also managed to meet standard performance indicators for Polio, Measles and Neonatal Tetanus.

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Below:

Deputy Minister and WR test driving one of the vehicles

WR and Dep Min inspecting vehicles

WR signing the handover certificates