UNICEF calls for community-centred pandemic preparedness

UNICEF has called on Zimbabwean authorities to strengthen community engagement and protect essential health services as the country implements new investments aimed at improving disaster prevention, preparedness and response.

Speaking at the launch of the Pandemic Fund grants in Harare recently, UNICEF representative Etona Ekole said preparedness should go beyond laboratories, surveillance systems, emergency operations centres and health workers to include communities, particularly children, women and vulnerable populations.

Ekole said communities were often the first to detect signs of disease outbreaks, making public awareness, trust in health systems and timely action critical to preventing public health emergencies.

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