Chairperson of the Kavango West Regional Council, Joseph Sikongo, on Monday called on teachers to take the lead and get vaccinated as a way to encourage learners to also get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Sikongo made the call during the official activation of the learners’ COVID-19 school vaccination campaign held at Kahenge Combined School in Nkurenkuru.

The campaign, which will be held for a six-month period, aims to mobilise and create awareness to counter misinformation and educate learners, teachers, school boards and parents on the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination.

Sikongo applauded the Ministry of Education Arts and Culture for initiating the campaign, saying it comes at an opportune time when the winter season is approaching, which has previously led to a rise in COVID-19 cases in the country and in schools.

“It is our greatest wish to see more children vaccinated in order to ensure minimal disruption to our children,” he said, adding that teachers are influential people in children’s lives and should therefore take a central role and lead by example.

“When we send our children to schools, we send them with the intention that you are there as their parents. Your role is to protect them and ensure their safety. You need to lead by example by getting vaccinated yourself as a way to encourage our learners. Facilitate the process, especially for children living in hostels who need consent from parents by reaching out to their parents and ensuring that they get the consent,” he said.

Sikongo further called on the Ministry of Education and Health Ministry to ensure that there are enough vehicles available for teams to reach all schools in the regions and help bring the vaccination services closer to the people.

Speaking at the same accession Acting Kavango West Education Director, Herbert Karapo, said the achievement of national herd immunity through vaccination is currently the key priority measure set up to attain the maximum control of the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, vaccine hesitancy among the general population remains a public health threat, especially among parents and teachers, he adds.

By Monday, 16 624 children aged 12-17 years had received one dose of the Pfizer vaccine, representing 5.4 per cent of the target population (307 298). Of these, 6 319 are fully vaccinated.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency