UN commends Covid-19 vaccination

Harare (New Ziana)-Zimbabwe hopes to get guidance from the United Nations resident team on ways to help the country “build forward better” post Covid-19, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga said on Thursday.

Speaking after a courtesy call on him by the UN resident co-ordinator Edward Kallon, VP Chiwenga, who is also the Health and Child Care Minister said the country’s desire was to see what the United Nations country team has in store for Zimbabwe under the UN Sustainable Development Co-operation Framework for 2022 to 2026.

“As a country, we will be glad to hear the United Resident Co-ordinator’s insight on ways to help Zimbabwe “build forward better” during the post Covid-19 pandemic period and to address causes of poverty, inequality and vulnerability.

“Once again, I would like to thank the United Nations country team for the invaluable support rendered through the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria among others,” he said.

The UN co-ordinator commended the government for implementing a fight against Covid-19 pandemic over the past two years though mass vaccination.

“We are here to support the Government of Zimbabwe and we appreciate your government’s role in the fight against Covid-19. I think Zimbabwe is one of the countries with a strong vaccination strategy,” he said.

According to the Ministry of Health and Child Care, to date, 3, 6 million Zimbabweans have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 while over 5, 8 million other have received the first dose .

Kallon commended the government for dedicating 14 percent of the 2022 national budget towards the health sector.

“I would like to applaud you also on the money allocated to the health sector in the national budget in line with the Abuja Declaration,” he said.

The Abuja Declaration of 2001 is a pledge made by African countries to increase government health funding by allocating at least 15 percent of the annual budget to improve the sector.
New Ziana