By Robert Tapfumaneyi
THE Apostolic Women Empowerment Trust (AWET) says the spread of misinformation, distrust, including social, religious, and cultural barriers are contributing to members of their sects being hesitant to receive Covid-19 inoculation.
The government launched the programme in February this year with a target to vaccinate 60% or 10 million citizens.
However, the uptake has not been favourable with the Health Ministry indicating Friday that 500 422 people had taken the first dose and 140 340 the second dose.
But, Apostolic Sect leaders said members from their churches were unwilling to receive the vaccination due to lack of information and social barriers.
This emerged during the United Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Global Faith for Positive Change Initiative in Harare workshop attended by faith leaders from various religious groups on Covid-19 vaccination awareness campaign.
Govt, Unicef engage religious leaders over COVID-19 vaccines
BY VANESSA GUZHA
The United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) and the Health ministry yesterday partnered with Apostolic Women Empowerment Trust (AWET) in interfacing with religious leaders from across the country to mobilise for support for the country’s COVID-19 vaccination programme.
The faith leaders were drawn from religious groups including Christian, Islamic and African traditional religions.
Unicef spokesperson Elizabeth Mupfumira said faith leaders were critical partners in addressing barriers to the uptake of health and other essential services, including vaccines.
“Through the partnership with AWET, over 850 interfaith and community leaders have been trained to support, engage and mobilise their communities about integrated COVID-19 prevention and continuity of essential health, nutrition, education, child protection and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services,” Mupfumira said.