Staff Reporter

The Zimbabwe Red Cross Society (ZRCS) partnered with the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show (ZAS) during last week’s Harare Agricultural Show in providing free COVID-19 vaccinations as it complemented government’s vaccination programme.

In support of the government accelerated and decentralized vaccination drive, the ZRCS deployed a team of medical doctors and nurses who were providing COVID-19 vaccinations for free within the exhibition centres, bringing the much-needed services closer to the people who might have missed an opportunity to get vaccinated due to other commitments.

Speaking to this publication during last week’s Harare Agricultural Show, the ZRCS Secretary General, Mr Elias Hwenga, said as an auxiliary to government’s humanitarian efforts, they were playing a complimentary role and will continue providing such services whenever possible.

"As an auxiliary to government and a humanitarian player whose sole mandate is to serve humanity, providing health and first aid services at ZAS and other national events, is in sync with our mandate and mission. This need has been even more evident this year as we are grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic and in line with the government’s accelerated vaccination drive, we strongly feel bringing the vaccines closer to the people will go a long way in the attainment of the herd immunity, we intend as a nation so that we might return to our normal activities,” said Hwenga

Mr Hwenga added that the vaccination program brought the much-needed service closer to those who are formally and informally employed and in line with the government policy, the ZRCS availed the COVID-19 vaccinations for free.

“Our main thrust through this vaccination initiative in support of the government’s COVID-19 accelerated and decentralized vaccination drive is to ensure that everyone has access to COVID-19 vaccines. There is no time for waiting, we need to vaccinate as many people as we can immediately. The need to vaccinate as many as we can is crucial for us as a country so that we reach the goal of herd immunity,” added Mr. Hwenga.

Zimbabwe Red Cross Society has over the years continued to champion community-based disaster risk reduction programmes and initiatives that provide community-based solutions to everyday challenges, with the organisation providing top of the range first aid and nurse aide training services at its various centres around Zimbabwe.