Published by the government of Zimbabwe
27 May 2008
Harare — Zimbabwe has managed to eradicate the wild polio virus with no cases recorded in the past 20 years, according to the World Health Organisation.
In his presentation at a doctors' conference at a Bulawayo hotel last week, WHO country medical officer Dr Nasir Yusuf said Zimbabwe was among many countries in Africa that had eradicated the virus.
The conference was being held under the theme: "Providing Maximum Good Health in Times of Scarcity". Dr Yusuf said as of May this year, only one African country, Nigeria, still had the virus. "Zimbabwe has managed to keep out the virus for the past 20 years. Nigeria is the only African country that still has the virus. Other countries such as Namibia had the virus through importation," he said, referring to an outbreak of the disease in Namibia two years ago.
He said India, South East Asia, Afghanistan and Pakistan still had high rates of polio cases. Dr Yusuf said there was need to work with health teams to detect the virus, investigate it and raise awareness about it. "We also have to advocate for mothers to take their children for vaccination during polio campaigns. Doctors and pharmacists have a big role to play in the eradication of the virus," he said. Presenting a paper on measles during the conference, chairman of the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Zimbabwe, Dr Isidore Pazvakavambwa, said there was need to educate people on the effects of the acute and highly infectious viral disease.
He said due to limited resources, all stakeholders have to come together so that they could reach out to rural areas. "There is need to educate people on measles and come up with preventive measures. A lot of people are dying because of limited resources and the constant increase in the cost of medication. All stakeholders have to come together so that we can reach people in the rural areas," said Dr Pazvakavambwa.
He said it was cheaper to come up with preventive measures. "Mothers should be encouraged to take their children for vaccination and at the same time research must be done in order to eradicate the disease," said Dr Pazvakavambwa.
Two years ago, 44 people died of measles in Marange, Manicaland Province.
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