Health Minister Douglas Mombeshora says the bike-borne “village health workers” (VHWs) have helped get 22,000 girls immunised in Mashonaland West since the programme kicked off two years ago.
Zimbabwe has an 55% overall coverage rate with the cancer-blocking human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, and disproportionate immunity gaps exist in rural areas.
In Kariba and Hurungwe, to the country’s northwest, village health workers (VHWs) like Sita have stepped up as “vaccine cyclists” to help remedy the shortfall.
“We know the wild elephants: we grew up around them, and we deftly don’t disturb them as we pursue the mission – HPV immunisation,” Sita says.
“We cycle for HPV because no angel from Japan or Europe will do it for our community,” says Aubrey Sachikonye, 45, a fellow VHW in Kariba.
In fact, even Zimbabwean medical professionals have proven difficult to attract to the kinds of rural communities Sachikonye serves.
It was a huge relief to their mother: she had believed they had missed their window to receive their jab. »