A COVID-19 mass vaccination campaign outreach programme for the Otjozondjupa Region, officially kicked off at Otjiwarongo on Thursday.

Otjozondjupa Regional Health Director, Gebhardo Timotheus, in an interview with Nampa on Thursday, said the COVID-19 outreach teams are aiming to reach the rural and informal areas of the region, where a large number of people reside.

“We started with this programme today at the Otjiwarongo police station and it will continue for places like Kalkfeld, Etunda farm, Otavi, Osire and other places until 12 July 2021 when these rural areas in the region are covered,” he said.

Timotheus stated that the regional vaccination programme against COVID-19 was officially launched on 21 April 2021 and this outreach is aimed at accelerating the process to reach more people.

He said so far a total of 9 986 people have been vaccinated against the disease, of which 8 393 received their first doses, and 1 593 people are still waiting for their second doses.

He said the people are choosing from the two types of doses – Sinopharm or AstraZeneca.

The director further said the region still has a lot of doses in stock including enough oxygen at the district hospitals.

The region has four districts of Otjiwarongo, Okahandja, Okakarara and Grootfontein.

A total of 111 people have succumbed to the COVID-19 related diseases in the region, said Timotheus.

Source: Namibia Press Agency