Shamva, Zimbabwe: 06 June 2014 - The World Health Organization Country Office in Zimbabwe joined the Ministry of Health and Child Care during the belated 2014 World Health Day commemoration. Over 400 people including community members and school children from Shamva district, traditional and political leaders, health workers at Primary health care, district, provincial and national levels, other government officials and the media participated. The national commemoration was held under the theme “Small bites: Big threats” and the slogan “Protect yourself from vector-borne diseases”.

Speeches delivered during the commemoration echoed the need to intensify and sustain efforts to prevent and control vector-borne diseases. The speeches were complemented with exhibitions, demonstrations and edutainment. The Minister of Health and Child Care Dr. David Parirenyatwa also treated 15 school children with albendazole and praziquantel to demonstrate the safety of the medicines used during mass treatment of soil transmitted helminthes (worms) and schistosomiasis (bilharzia).

The WHO Representative in Zimbabwe Dr. David Okello was represented by WR a.i. Dr. Wilfred Nkhoma. In his remarks Dr. Nkhoma noted that the problem of vector-borne diseases is wide spread and neglected. Globally, in 2012 alone, there were an estimated 564,000 and 36,500 deaths caused by malaria and sleeping sickness, respectively. He added that more people are at risk of     elephantiasis and river blindness. Dr. Nkhoma emphasised that one method or one approach will not win the fight against vector-borne diseases. “WHO promotes integrated vector management as the best approach to strengthen vector control.” Said Dr. Nkhoma. “Also important are public health interventions such as regular mass drug administration to at-risk groups with safe, effective medicines, as well as improving access to safe drinking water and sanitation, public education, including hygiene promotion, and social mobilisation.” Added Dr. Nkhoma. He also reiterated that WHO will stand side by side with the Government of Zimbabwe to articulate appropriate policies and interventions to combat vector borne diseases.

The UNICEF Country Representative Mr. Reza Hossain congratulated the Ministry of Health and Child Care for commemorating World Health Day, calling it an important day. He expressed concern over the high prevalence of vector-borne diseases and their impact on school performance. He also highlighted that negative media publicity surrounding the mass drug administration against bilharzia and worms and its impact was needless.

The Minister of Health and Child Care Dr. David Parirenyatwa was the guest of honour at the commemoration. His remarks emphasized the importance of intensifying efforts to control vectors and vector-borne diseases, noting that people cannot perform optimally when they are infected with these diseases. “These diseases affect productivity and as a result the goals of the country’s economic blue print the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim Asset) will not be achieved”. Said Dr. Parirenyatwa. He also encouraged a supermarket approach. “For instance when a child presents at a health facility with a health condition or an injury also ask if they have had blood in urine (haematuria) in the near past.” Said Dr. Parirenyatwa. He went on to encourage communities to use personal protective measures such as insecticide-treated nets to avoid bites of flies that transmit diseases. In addition he encouraged uptake of preventive measures for controlling vectors such as indoor residual spraying.