The Walvis Bay Corridor Group in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Social Services, Roads Authority and Engen Namibia on Thursday officially launched a COVID-19 vaccination campaign for truck drivers.

In his remarks at the launch, Walvis Bay Corridor Group wellness project manager Edward Shivute said the campaign which has been running since 03 September at designated sites countrywide has seen 140 truck drivers been vaccinated, so far.

“We are very pleased with the uptake from the drivers so far, we have not received any resistance and this shows that the drivers are encouraging each other to get vaccinated whenever they engage. Most of the drivers are coming for their first dose, which shows that most of them have not yet been vaccinated,” said Shivute.

He added that the company has also been assisting truck drivers with HIV and Aids treatment and counselling and has tested over 6 000 drivers since 2007, of which about 500 have tested positive.

“When you talk about frontline workers especially in this time of COVID-19, then truck drivers are one of our essential workers. If it wasn’t for them driving up and down to bring commodities into the country we would have nothing to eat, no medicine or even clothes. These guys are doing the most and we need to appreciate and take care of them as they contribute a lot to our economy,” stated Shivute.

Khomas Region Health Director Tomas Ukola, who also spoke at the same occasion, said the ministry has formed a strategic alliance with various partners to help with the mass rollout of the vaccination campaign in order to reach the vaccination target of over 60 per cent of the population by March next year.

“You can build world-class health facilities everywhere in the country, but if the population is not vaccinated then the fight against COVID-19 will go to waste,” said Ukola.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency