Communities in the Zambezi Region say they will be more receptive to the COVID-19 vaccine if assured of their safety by their traditional and religious leaders, as they trust these leaders more.
Several community members echoed these sentiments while participating in recent COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy assessment discussions conducted by the Ministry of Health in nine regions with law vaccination uptake. The assessments concluded last week.
“Messages should come through our church leaders, traditional leaders and Indunas… The government should enable traditional leaders with a platform to engage our communities regarding COVID-19, because we trust our traditional leaders more than other sources of information, including politicians, the media or any other person,” a community member from Mafuta Constituency in Katima Mulilo Urban said.
Another participant from Linyanti Constituency said they are hesitant to get vaccinated because of confusing messages coming from different leaders of their churches.
“We have heard vaccinated people are connected to the ‘Beast or 666’ that is written in the Bible and is linked to the devil and that if you get vaccinated, you will not get into heaven,” she said while calling on the government to offer training to traditional, religious and youth leaders in this regard as community members trust them more.
Participants from other regions emphasised that there is still a need for education and awareness on the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine as currently, rumours and confusing information are more dominant.
Some participants from the Ohangwena Region called on Ministry of Health officials and health care workers to host more face-to-face community engagements to give the public opportunities to ask questions and seek clarity.
“People are telling each other lies. People sit at cucashops and spread lies and there is no one to disprove and explain things to us. It will help if nurses and doctors and people from the ministry come to us more often and educate us about the virus and vaccination, the same way they use to do with things like HIV and AIDS and TB,” a participant from the Omusati Region suggested.
Their sentiments were echoed by participants from all nine regions.
They also asked that messaging and COVID-19 information be communicated via the radio in local languages for better understanding.
Health Executive Director Ben Nangombe said the outcome of the assessment will guide the Ministry of Health and stakeholders in their COVID-19 response and efforts to reach herd immunity.
He assured members of the public that the vaccines are safe and provide protection against severe illness and death.
“Getting vaccinated could save your life and that of your loved ones. The vaccine strengthens your immune system and provides strong protection against serious illness, hospitalisation and death. Being vaccinated makes it less likely that you will pass the virus on to others, thereby protecting those around you,” Nangombe emphasised, adding that the Ministry of Health is mandated to ensure public health and does not aim to harm the public.
He also encouraged different institutions and community leaders to continue engaging the public and encouraging them to get vaccinated, adding that the ministry remains committed to partnership with leaders, institutions and individuals in the fight against COVID-19.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency
