This contributed volume, based on papers presented at a conference held in Zimbabwe in mid-2021, examines the nexus between Zimbabwe’s health systems and the COVID-19 pandemic. The collection of papers contained here is diverse and covers topics from how health systems handled (or didn’t handle) surges to health communication during a global pandemic to economic and environmental impacts of the pandemic in Zimbabwe. Editors Drs. Edward Kunonga, Lazarus Chapungu, and David Chikodzi set the stage for these pieces with an introductory chapter that describes the health systems in Zimbabwe and offers an overview of the effects of the pandemic felt in the country. Their concluding chapter synthesizes trends and issues emerging from the chapters and recommends policy directions regarding health management systems in Zimbabwe and elsewhere in the face of this and future pandemics.
Author(s): Lazarus Chapungu, David Chikodzi, Kaitano Dube
Series: Global Perspectives on Health Geography
Publisher: Springer
Year: 2023
Language: English
Pages: 312
City: Cham
Peer Review Process
Acknowledgements
Contents
About the Editors
About the Contributors
Part I: Introduction
Chapter 1: Introduction: COVID-19-Health Systems Nexus—The Trends and Dynamics
1.1 Background
1.2 Global Health Systems: An Overview
1.3 The COVID-19-Global Health Systems Nexus
1.4 The African Context
1.5 The COVID-19-Health Systems Nexus: The Zimbabwe Experience
1.6 Materials and Methods
1.7 Book Outline
References
Part II: Health System Dynamics in a COVID-19 Environment
Chapter 2: The COVID-19 Pandemic in Zimbabwe: A Spatial and Temporal Perspective
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Materials and Methods
2.3 Presentation of Results
2.3.1 Spatial Distribution of COVID-19 Cases
2.3.2 Temporal Trend of COVID-19 in Zimbabwe
2.4 Discussion
2.4.1 Spatial Pattern
2.4.2 Temporal Trends of COVID-19
2.5 Conclusion
References
Chapter 3: Public Safety and Health Systems in the Context of COVID-19 in Zimbabwe: Gaps and Prospects
3.1 Introduction and Background
3.2 Conceptualising Public Safety-Health Systems
3.3 Safety Systems and Health Systems in Zimbabwe: An Overview
3.4 Methodology
3.5 Results and Discussions
3.5.1 State of Public Emergency
3.5.2 Public Health Systems Amid COVID-19
3.5.3 Public Safety and COVID-19 Pandemic
3.5.4 Public Health Systems and Public Safety Systems: Nexus
3.5.5 Law Enforcement and COVID-19 Pandemic
3.5.6 Crimes and Safety of Individuals and Property
3.5.7 Outdoor Activities, Crime and COVID-19
3.5.8 Citizens’ Safety and Health as Fundamental Human Rights
3.5.9 Community Policing Amid COVID-19: In Need of Partnerships?
3.5.10 Towards Public Safety-Health Behavioural Approaches
3.5.11 Entwining Public Health and Public Safety
3.6 Conclusions and Recommendations
References
Chapter 4: Devolution as a Health Governance Paradigm Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic in Zimbabwe: Convergences and Divergences
4.1 Introduction
4.1.1 Devolution in Theory
4.1.2 Devolved Governance in Zimbabwe: Brief Overview
4.1.3 Zimbabwe’s Devolved Emergency and Disaster Risk Governance
4.1.3.1 Health System Devolved Governance in Zimbabwe
4.2 Research Design and Methodology
4.3 Results and Discussion
4.3.1 Devolution and Public Health in Zimbabwe
4.3.2 Central and Local Governments’ Responses: Decision Space on Health Matters?
4.3.3 Local Authorities and the Provision of Health Critical Infrastructure
4.3.4 Fiscal Devolution and Health Services Financing
4.3.5 Health Entities, Local Autonomy and Decision Space
4.3.6 Quarantine, Isolation, Testing and Contact Tracing
4.3.7 Localised Lockdowns
4.3.8 Community Public Health Actions: Networks and Local-Level Solutions
4.3.9 Public Accountability and Efficiency: Checks and Balances
4.3.10 Local Democracy in COVID-19 Control
4.3.11 ‘Universal’ Health Coverage Problematic
4.3.12 The Limitations of Devolution Model on COVID-19 Curtailment
4.4 Conclusions and Recommendations
References
Chapter 5: Global COVID-19 Pandemic: A Strategic Opportunity for Operationalizing One Health Approach in Zimbabwe
5.1 Introduction
5.2 One Health Concept
5.2.1 Benefits of One Health Approach
5.3 One Health in Practice
5.3.1 Global Level
5.3.2 Regional Level
5.3.3 One Health Implementation Challenges and Gaps
5.4 Methods
5.5 Results
5.5.1 One Health Initiatives in Zimbabwe
5.5.1.1 Participation in International One Health Programmes
5.5.1.2 OH Antimicrobial Resistance National Action Plan
5.5.1.3 SAFE Project
5.5.1.4 PACMAN Project
5.5.1.5 Cross-Sectoral Zoonotic Committees
5.5.2 Opportunities for a Holistic One Health Approach in Zimbabwe
5.5.2.1 Relevant Legal and Institutional Framework
5.5.2.2 Open-Source Database Management Systems and Geospatial Technology
5.5.2.3 Existing Cross-Border Initiatives
5.5.3 Constraints for a Holistic One Health Approach in Zimbabwe
5.5.3.1 Resource-Limited Public Health System
5.5.3.2 Limited Capacity of Animal Health Systems
5.5.3.3 Increased Human-Animal-Ecosystem Interface
5.5.3.4 WASH Challenges
5.5.3.5 Risk Cultural and Behavioural Practices
5.6 Discussion
5.7 Conclusion
References
Chapter 6: An Analysis of the Dynamics of COVID-19 Pandemic in Zimbabwe Using the Extended SEIR Model with Treatment and Quarantine
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Literature Review
6.3 Methods
6.3.1 Model Background
6.3.2 The Model Equations
6.3.2.1 Assumptions
6.3.2.2 Analysis of the Equilibrium Points
6.3.2.3 The Disease-Free Equilibrium Point
6.3.2.4 Equilibria
6.4 Results
6.5 Discussion
6.6 Limitations
6.7 Conclusion and Recommendations
References
Chapter 7: Indigenous Health Practices and Lifestyles: Can They Help Zimbabwe Transform Its Health Systems in the Face of the COVID-19 Pandemic?
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Overview of Indigenous Health Practices
7.3 Indigenous Lifestyles/Culture
7.3.1 Religion
7.3.2 Sunbathing and Fire Warming
7.3.3 Diet
7.3.4 Handshaking
7.3.5 Social Gatherings
7.4 Analysis of Transformation of Health Systems
7.4.1 Hand Hygiene
7.4.2 Herbal Remedies
7.4.3 Diet
7.4.4 Indigenous Lifestyles/Culture
7.5 Conclusion
7.6 Future Perspectives and Research Directions
References
Chapter 8: Virtual Communities in Supporting Access to Health Services During COVID-19 Pandemic: The Implications and Impact on Zimbabwe’s Health System
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Literature Review
8.3 Theoretical Framework
8.4 Research Methodology
8.5 Findings and Discussion
8.5.1 Implications and Impact of VHCs
8.5.2 Limitations of the Study
8.6 Conclusions and Recommendations
References
Part III: COVID-19 Restrictive Measures and Related Impacts
Chapter 9: Decongesting Global Cities as Part of Health Reform in the Era of COVID-19: Impacts and Implications for Zimbabwe
9.1 Introduction
9.2 Literature Review
9.2.1 Cities and Outbreaks of Pandemics in the Twenty-First Century
9.2.2 COVID-19 and the City Connection
9.3 Methodology
9.4 Results
9.5 Discussion
9.6 Conclusion
References
Chapter 10: Deciphering Synergies and Trade-Offs Between COVID-19 Measures and the Progress Towards SDG 15-Life on Land in Zimbabwe
10.1 Introduction
10.2 Literature Background
10.3 Materials and Methods
10.4 Findings
10.5 Conclusion
References
Chapter 11: The Impact of COVID-19 on Economic Development in Zimbabwe: Implications on the Health Delivery System
11.1 Introduction
11.2 Literature Review
11.3 Materials and Methods
11.3.1 Study Area
11.3.2 Data Collection
11.3.3 Data Analysis
11.4 Results and Discussion
11.5 Discussion
11.6 Conclusion
References
Part IV: Vaccine Uptake and Diplomacy
Chapter 12: COVID-19 Vaccination Hesitancy: Interrogating the Trends, Dynamics and Implications for the Health Delivery System in Zimbabwe
12.1 Introduction
12.2 Literature Review
12.2.1 Vaccine Development and Distribution
12.2.2 Vaccine Hesitancy: An Overview
12.2.3 The Drivers of Vaccine Hesitancy in Zimbabwe
12.3 Materials and Methods
12.3.1 Study Area
12.3.2 Research Design and Data Collection
12.4 Results and Discussion
12.4.1 Evidence of Vaccine Hesitancy
12.4.2 Likelihood of Vaccination
12.4.3 Determinants of Vaccine Hesitancy
12.5 Discussion
12.6 Conclusions and Recommendations
References
Chapter 13: The Complexities of Public Health Communication on COVID-19 Vaccination in the Social Media Era: Implications on Zimbabwe’s Health System
13.1 Introduction
13.2 Literature Review and Conceptual Framework
13.2.1 Public Health Campaigns and Anti-Vaccination (‘Anti-Vax’) Campaigns
13.2.2 The Networked Public Sphere and the ‘Parallel Market of information’
13.3 Methodology
13.4 Findings and Discussion
13.4.1 Messages and Complexities to Public Health Communication
13.4.1.1 Religiosity Specifically Religious Discourse on Vaccines
13.4.1.2 The Main Motive Behind the Virus and Vaccines Is Commercial Purpose/Gain
13.4.1.3 Mistrust or Suspicion of Political Manipulation by the Government
13.4.1.4 General Mistrust of Vaccines – Vaccine Safety
13.4.2 Implications for Health Delivery
13.5 Conclusion and Recommendations
References
Chapter 14: COVID-19 Vaccine Diplomacy: Tracking the Chinese, Indian and Russian Global Pathways and Undertones
14.1 Introduction
14.2 Literature Review
14.3 Materials and Methods
14.4 Presentation and Discussion of Results
14.4.1 COVID-19 Vaccine Diplomacy from China
14.4.2 COVID-19 Vaccine Diplomacy from India
14.4.3 COVID-19 Vaccine Diplomacy from Russia
14.5 Conclusions
References
Part V: Conclusion
Chapter 15: The COVID-19-Health Systems Nexus: Conclusions, Emerging Trends, Key Findings and Policy Implications
15.1 Introduction and Background
15.1.1 Access to Health Care and Interaction with SDGs
15.1.2 Impacts on Vulnerable Communities and Management of Health Systems
15.1.3 Impacts on Africa’s Heath System
15.2 Key Findings
15.2.1 Health system Dynamics in a COVID-19 Environment
15.2.2 COVID-19 Restrictive Measures and Related Impacts
15.2.3 Vaccine Uptake and Diplomacy
15.3 Policy Implications
References
Index
