Paul Nyathi

Zimbabwe has been ranked number 102 by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The rankings were crafted in such a manner that countries in the single digit category did not do well in fighting the pandemic while those with double digits did better and those with three digits did well.

Countries that recorded the most deaths and infections such as the United States, Britain and Italy, are in the single digit category.

Addressing corporates and organisations from Bulawayo who had come to present Covid-19 donations towards the operationalisation of Ekusileni Hospital in Bulawayo at State House yesterday, President Mnangagwa said although the country’s health sector was facing challenges, Government and the people were more conscious and took mitigatory measures more than other countries.

President Mnangagwa said WHO had ranked countries according to how they were faring with regards to the impact and mitigation of the pandemic.

“Those with single digits didn’t do well. Those with double digits were better than those with single digits but Zimbabwe goes to the three digits. We are number 102,” he said.

He said the US was on number 1, Brazil 2, Russia 3, India 4, Britain 5 and South Africa 7.

“When you look at the capacity of these individual countries’ economies, one would think they have more muscle and both capacity and capability to deal with the pandemic far much more than us who have weak economies.

“Because of the realisation that we do not have a solid health infrastructure system in place, we become more conscious than those who have,” he said.

President Mnangagwa said Government had prioritised serving lives even if it meant negative impact on the economy.

“Post Covid-19 pandemic we can still sit around the table as we are and discuss how to resuscitate our economy and how to grow our economy. Since time immemorial before Christ, even before the Roman empire, we have never had a conference where people discuss on how to raise the dead.

“So we will not be an exception. We need to take measures to preserve lives. But we need to identify that which is critically important and correct and quite another to be able to carry the nation with that vision. We as Government feel extremely proud that our people: individually, as groups, communities, companies, churches, organisations and as societies, have moved and responded to this appeal to show compassion and make contributions to fight and mitigate the impact of this pandemic,” said the President.

Source: State Media