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WHO prequalifies new oral simplified vaccine for cholera – World – ReliefWeb

A new oral vaccine for cholera has received prequalification by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 12 April. The inactivated oral vaccine Euvichol-S has a similar efficacy to existing vaccines but a simplified formulation, allowing opportunities to rapidly increase production capacity.

“The new vaccine is the third product of the same family of vaccines we have for cholera in our WHO prequalification list,” said Dr Rogerio Gaspar, Director of the WHO Department for Regulation and Prequalification. “The new prequalification is hoped to enable a rapid increase in production and supply which many communities battling with cholera outbreaks urgently need.”

WHO prequalification list already includes Euvichol and Euvichol-Plus inactivated oral cholera vaccines produced by EuBiologicals Co., Ltd, Republic of South Korea, which also produces the new vaccine Euvichol-S.

Vaccines provide the fastest intervention to prevent, limit and control cholera outbreaks but supplies have been at the lowest point amidst countries facing dire shortcomings in other areas of cholera prevention and management such as safe water, hygiene and sanitation.

There were 473 000 cholera cases reported to WHO in 2022 — double the number from 2021. Further increase of cases by 700 000 was estimated for 2023. Currently, 23 countries are reporting cholera outbreaks with most severe impacts seen in the Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Somalia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

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Breaking news. – The Herald

Precious Manomano Herald Reporter

Government has intensified the fight against livestock mortality by constructing water troughs at the village business units, hay baling, and drought mitigation awareness campaigns.

It has also embarked on a nationwide borehole drilling exercise to save the lives of both livestock and people.

The Government is also upscaling hay baling programmes, where five million hay bales are expected to be produced this season and water is also distributed in areas where livestock is most vulnerable.

To date, private players and the Government have so far produced 1 223 674 hay bales and last season a total of 4 803 133 hay bales were produced.

The Agriculture and Rural Development Advisory Service (ARDAS)indicates that the Government is constructing troughs at borehole sites adding that it is currently mobilising water bowsers for strategic areas.

“Drought mitigation awareness campaigns are underway. This involves the use of pamphlets, use of electronic and print media.

“Drilling of boreholes is underway and piping of water from dams to strategic areas is recommended.

“Modalities for expediting the procurement process of the requirements for hay baling are underway. In the previous hay bailing of 2023, a total of 4,8 million were produced and these need to be mobilised as a strategic supplementary feeding,” said the department.

Farmers are encouraged to destock. This involves reducing the number of animal stock during the drought. Non-productive stock is selected, finished off, and sold, and the returns can be used to purchase feed to save the productive herd.

Destocking reduces the demand for fodder & grazing.

Disposal and removal of diseased animals will reduce the potential for environmental and health challenges.

Destocking also helps create links with traders in remote areas, where they may not naturally have reached.

Financing of traders to support destocking is also important and facilitation of increased offtake through removal of trade and marketing barriers.

Livestock vaccinations are also recommended this period to mitigate the spread of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) during movement of livestock from FMD zones into national parks.

Grazing of livestock too close to the ground and indiscriminate feeding patterns common during drought periods will expose them to diseases such as Anthrax, Blackleg, Botulism, and Hardware disease.

Increased activity at the human-livestock-wildlife interface will likely result in rabies virus spill-over to humans and domestic animals hence the need to vaccinate against these diseases

Farmers are encouraged to implement management practices such as providing ample shade and access to cool water, and adjusting feeding schedules can help minimise the impact of heat on cattle health and welfare.

They are also encouraged to establish dedicated fodder plots and provide cattle with adequate water.

Farmers are urged to downscale some livestock and procure feed adding that there is a need to practice good husbandry practises.

Acting chief director at the Veterinary Services Department Dr Pious Makaya said livestock condition is not bad adding that borehole drilling and hay bailing are critical components that need to be scaled up this period.

“Grazing is limited in winter due to the effects of climate change so various strategies were put in place by the Government to ensure that our livestock do not suffer from drought,” he said.

Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union (ZCFU) president Dr Shadreck Makombe said farmers should consider the long-term sustainability of the pasture and not exceed its carrying capacity.

There is a need to reduce the stocking rate by either selling less productive animals or moving them to alternative grazing areas.

The situation will reduce pressure on the pasture and ensure that there is enough forage for the remaining animals, he said.

Recently, Livestock Farmers Union chairman Sifiso Sibanda said farmers may need to safeguard their livestock this coming season by adjusting herd sizes and stocking rates to prevent overgrazing and reduce the risk of livestock losses due to feed shortages.

Government was concerned with the level of performance of the livestock sector and it promulgated a blueprint to address all areas that were limiting growth

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Ministry partners RBZ in currency awareness – The Herald

Ministry partners RBZ in currency awareness

Farirai Machivenyika Senior Reporter

The Ministry of Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting Services has come up with a communication plan to aid the Reserve Bank in raising awareness of the new gold-backed ZiG currency introduced last month.

While the ZiG existed from the second week of last month in bank accounts and electronic transfers, notes and coins of the ZiG were released to the market on Tuesday, bringing relief to the transacting public who were facing difficulties in accessing small change.

In a statement yesterday Permanent Secretary for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Mr Nick Mangwana said the Ministry was using communication channels, such as radio, television, newspapers, and social media, to educate the public about the advantages of using gold as a currency, such as its stability and value retention.

“To achieve this mandate, the ministry is using its spread of district information officers and provincial information officers to reach the citizens in rural and urban areas.

“In addition to the Ministry’s information ecosystem, it is also working with key stakeholders, such as financial institutions and businesses, to encourage the adoption of gold as a means of exchange.

“Additionally, the ministry will be coordinating events, such as workshops and conferences, to engage with the public and address any concerns or misconceptions about using gold as a currency.

“By effectively communicating the benefits and possibilities of using gold as a currency, the Ministry of Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting Services will help generate support and momentum for the gold currency publicity campaign in Zimbabwe,” he said.

Mr Mangwana said the communication plan sought to ensure that the purpose, benefits, and features of the new currency were clearly understood by the target audience.

The communication plan was helping the team to undertake five key issues: creating awareness, providing information, addressing concerns, building trust and encouraging adoption.

“The communication plan will be instrumental in creating awareness among the citizens about the introduction of the ZiG. Through various communication channels such as media, social media, and public events, the plan will ensure that the citizens are informed about the new currency and its benefits.

“The communication plan is providing detailed information about the Zimbabwe Gold currency, including how it works, its value, and how citizens can exchange their existing currency for the new currency. This will help to dispel any confusion or misinformation surrounding the new currency.

“The communication plan is addressing any concerns or questions that citizens may have about the introduction of the Zimbabwe Gold currency. By providing clear and accurate information, the plan will help to alleviate any doubts or fears that the citizens may have,” he said.

“Effective communication is crucial in building trust between the Government and the citizens. The communication plan ensures transparency and openness in the communication process, which helps to build trust and confidence in the new currency.

“The communication plan is aiming to encourage citizens to adopt the Zimbabwe Gold Currency and use it in their daily transactions. By highlighting the benefits of the new currency, such as stability and security, the plan will incentivise citizens to embrace the new currency.”

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‘Zaoga’s ICT vision impressive’ – The Herald

‘Zaoga’s ICT vision impressive’

Farirai Machivenyika Senior Reporter

The late national hero and leader of the Zimbabwe Assemblies of God Africa (ZAOGA), Archbishop Professor Ezekiel Guti, was a visionary leader who valued the empowerment of children through education, Information and Communication Technologies, Postal and Courier Services Deputy Minister, Dingimuzi Phuti said this week.

Speaking on Tuesday at the Ezekiel Guti Christian Primary School in Riverside, Chitungwiza, after touring the school as part of preparations for the Ezekiel Guti Day to be commemorated on Saturday, he said: “I am humbled by the vision of our departed hero, Baba Guti, the vision that put the concerns of a human being to reality, the vision that foresaw things that we are beginning to discover today, the importance of taking a child to school, the knowledge that it doesn’t have to be the responsibility of Government alone.

“It’s the responsibility that is more entangled with care and understanding the reason to empower somebody through education that drove him. But apart from that we are really touched by the ahead of time kind of man he was,” he said.

Deputy Minister Phuti said the programme was meant to celebrate the life of an illustrious son of Zimbabwe whose visionary leadership was noticeable not only in Zimbabwe alone but impacted lives around the world.

The ministry has partnered the Ezekiel Guti Primary School to train youths in the use of ICT.

“In honour of the legacy of Baba Guti we decided that we come in with our digital relevance hence that training we have organised in partnership with your administration.

“We hope that the training will not only open up the eyes of our youngsters but will motivate them to pursue other relevant skills from this,” he said.

Archbishop Guti’s widow, Apostle Eunor Guti expressed her gratitude to the Ministry for the partnership.

“I would like to thank the Ministry of ICT for partnering with us and joining the Zaoga family as we celebrate the life and legacy of our father, Professor Guti,” she said.

Apart from schools the Archbishop Professor Guti also established the Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University in Bindura.