UNICEF Zimbabwe has released its 2021 Annual Report that outlines the situation for women and children in Zimbabwe with an overview of results and achievements in the areas of Health, HIV/AIDS, Nutrition, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Education, Child Protection, and Social Policy.

2021 was another year dominated by COVID-19 globally hence characterized in Zimbabwe by the second, third and fourth waves of infections, lockdowns, and the introduction of the COVID-19 vaccine. UNICEF implemented large scale programmes in close collaboration with the Government of Zimbabwe, WHO and partners to respond to COVID-19 which include promoting behavioural changes to avoid the spread of the virus, providing medical supplies to treat affected people and encouraging people to get vaccinated. 

UNICEF Zimbabwe, Communications Specialist, Elizabeth Mupfumira said UNICEF and partners assisted the country with various treatments and learning opportunities.

“In 2021 UNICEF and partners provided treatment to 81 percent of the adolescents affected by HIV/Aids which reached almost 400,000 children with emergency nutrition interventions supported basic water supply services to more than 1, 2 million people provided learning opportunities to 150,000 children with disabilities and out-of-school children ensured child protection services to 98,000 children in need of special assistance,” she said.

In a press statement, UNICEF Representative, Dr Tajudeen Oyewale said:

 “Our response to COVID-19, together with our partners, went up a gear. The support to the healthcare system contributed to sustaining essential health and nutrition services, and the COVID-19 vaccination rollout. We worked with the Government to introduce several measures to continue learning during the pandemic, and to reopen and keep schools safe,” he said.

Together with the Government of Zimbabwe, UNICEF developed innovative approaches in 2021, especially in response to the challenges imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. To add on, the Government and UNICEF launched the Zimbabwe Learning Passport increasing access for an additional 80,000 users to digital learning and creating 3,700 local content learning materials.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone.

https://www.unicef.org/zimbabwe/media/5591/file/Zimbabwe%20Annual%20Report%202021.pdf