OSHAKATI – Deputy youth minister Emma Kantema-Gaomas has urged the Oshana region to increase its vaccination uptake, and to move up from its current 10th place on the national vaccination ranking. As per national statistics, only 18 870 Oshana residents have received their first dose, while 13 505 have received their second dose by Tuesday this week.
Oshana is ranked fourth last from the bottom of regions with the least vaccinated people.
“I want us to push, and I will keep checking that table to see how Oshana is passing the other regions, because I know you have the capacity and you are well informed to take up the vaccination,” said Kantema-Gaomas.
She was speaking at the launch of the ‘Get vaccinated, kick Covid-19 out of Namibia’ campaign at the Oshakati open market in the Oshana region on Wednesday.
The deputy minister said the recently launched campaign is very important, because it educates the public on the importance of Covid-19 vaccination, creates awareness, mobilises the masses, and increases the demand for vaccine uptake.
She then commended the Oshana region for bringing the vaccination campaign to the people and their places of work, reducing time and money spent in queues.
Kantema-Gaomas urged the masses to come out in big numbers, “so that things can get back to normality and open the economy”.
She also praised government for acting swiftly when Covid-19 initially hit Namibia, saying, from the onset, measures were put in place to ensure that lives and livelihoods were saved.
Despite measures in place, various sectors of the economy were, however, disrupted, including the loss of jobs and loss of income.
But despite the challenges, Kantema-Gaomas highlighted Namibia is hailed by the world for its effort and initiatives put in place to curb the spread of the virus.
She stressed that getting vaccinated remains very important, as it does not only protect the person getting inoculated, but also the families, society and the country at large.
– nashipala@nepc.com.na