Oshana Governor Elia Irimari has said there is a need for a different approach to the fight against COVID-19, specifically with regards to boosting vaccination uptake and reaching herd immunity.
Irimari said this during a recent meeting with officials from the Ministry of Health and Social Services on the COVID-19 festive season campaign for the northern Namibians regions. The campaign was aimed at encouraging the public in the northern regions to get vaccinated. It started on 14 December 2021 and ends 07 January 2022.
Oshana has so far recorded the third lowest vaccination uptake nationally after the Zambezi and Ohangwena regions, having only fully vaccinated 19 184 people or 15.2 per cent of its 126 374 target population by 03 January.
“Our region through the governor’s office set up a task force committee consisting of all stakeholders including community members, government institutions and the private sector to support the ministry in combat the pandemic. We felt we have done what was needed in terms of sensitising communities about the pandemic through outreach programmes to all our 11 constituencies in the area,” Irimari said.
The governor said despite these efforts, vaccination uptake remains low, while misinformation continues to spread around, hampering Oshana’s COVID-19 response.
The region is working on new initiatives for 2022, which will include councillors visiting schools in their respective constituencies to talk to learners about the benefits of COVID-19 vaccines.
“In this fight we need the young ones to understand the pandemic. If we can directly engage young people to help them understand that vaccines are safe and that they reduce the risk of severe illness and death by COVID-19, then they can translate these messages to their parents and families in ways that they can understand,” Irimari said.
The governor’s office will further engage communities who have lost relatives to give public testimonies as a reminder of the devastating effect COVID-19 has on families.
“There were instances where half of the household was wiped out by COVID-19, from the grandparents to parents and siblings. Maybe by using those directly impacted, people will listen and understand that COVID-19 is real, and it is killing our people,” he stated.
The region further plans to engage the youth and youth leaders through sports events and other activities and will strengthen partnerships with traditional leaders.
“We need to amplify voices and messages from our traditional leaders. These are powerful leaders, especially in our rural communities. Their voices are at times more powerful than those of other leaders and are critical in our fight.”
Oshana is not the only region where vaccination uptake is low. As of 03 January, 405 409 people or 27 per cent of the targeted population had received their first dose countrywide, while 22.9 percent or 344 406 were fully vaccinated. Namibia aims to fully vaccinate at least 60 per cent of its population to reach herd immunity.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency
