By Flata Kavinga
The Ministry of Health and Child Care has launched the Kwekwe District Measles-Rubella Vaccination and Vitamin A Supplementation campaign at ZAOGA Miracle City Church in Mbizo 18, with a one-year-one-month-old child, Cute Princess Chandigere of Mbizo 15, becoming the first to receive her jab.
Speaking during the launch on Sunday, District Health Promotion Officer Sifelani Kudehama said the campaign, which runs from 6 to 10 October, targets children aged between six months and four years, eleven months for the measles-rubella vaccine, and those aged six to 59 months for Vitamin A supplementation.
He said the vaccination drive was launched at a church to involve community influencers who play a vital role in mobilising the public.
“We launched this programme at ZAOGA Church because church leaders are key influencers who play a significant role in information dissemination,” said Kudehama. “We are inviting all caregivers around Kwekwe and the greater part of Midlands to join us in preventing measles-rubella.”
Kudehama emphasized that the vaccination campaign is open to all eligible children regardless of their previous immunisation status, describing it as a supplementary booster dose aimed at strengthening protection.
“Even if your child received the same vaccine recently, we are giving this as a booster dose. This campaign is free of charge — no caregiver should pay anything,” he said.
He explained that the measles-rubella vaccine is not new, but part of Zimbabwe’s routine immunisation programme, with doses normally given at nine months and one year, six months. The current campaign seeks to reach children who may have missed routine vaccinations or are under-immunised, reducing the risk of potential outbreaks.
“We carry out such national campaigns every few years to ensure no community is left uncovered,” Kudehama said. “Our goal is to achieve more than 95 percent coverage to maintain strong community immunity.”
He encouraged parents and guardians to take their children to nearby health facilities, schools, or designated outreach points for vaccination.
Meanwhile, ZAOGA District Pastor Tapson Nyoni urged churches to support national vaccination efforts, saying faith communities play a crucial role in safeguarding children’s health.
“Let’s take this opportunity to get our children vaccinated,” said Pastor Nyoni. “We must support the Ministry of Health and Child Care as a way of showing we care for our children. We want them to grow up in a disease-free environment.”
The Ministry’s campaign forms part of the government’s continued efforts to prevent outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases and strengthen child health across Zimbabwe.
The nation-wide campaign is scheduled to run from 6-10 October 2025.
