Kicking out Covid-19 with the boots of the youth

On a path to healing the economy through vaccinations
On Friday, 25 March, the children's Covid-19 vaccination campaign was launched with a march from Black Chain Shopping Complex to the UN Plaza in Katutura.
Jamie-Lee Loss
The aim of the launch of this campaign is to eliminate Covid-19 through the vaccination of children from the ages of 12 to 17 years.

Edda Bohn, the deputy executive director of the ministry of education, arts and culture, said with the approval of the World Health Organisation (WHO) to vaccinate children aged 12 to 17, teaching and learning in Namibian schools can continue without being interrupted.

Invited guests included Katutura Central constituency councillor Rodman Vezemba Katjaimo, information ministry executive director Mbueta Ua-Ndjarakana, Khomas educational director Paulus Nghikembua and director of primary healthcare Naemi Shoopala, as well as primary and high school learners, principals, teachers and members of the media.

A decrease in Covid-19 cases has made many Namibians feel quite relaxed about the pandemic, but the Office of the Governor and Khomas Regional Council have formed alliances with education, health and other line ministries to continue to find ways to end the ongoing battle against the virus.

Learners can get vaccinated at any vaccination centre, however, their parents are required to sign a consent form which can be found on the health ministry’s website. This simply means that if parents don’t sign that consent form, then the learner can’t get vaccinated.

Shoopala reiterated that vaccination remains voluntary.

The health ministry aims to have 70% of the population vaccinated by June 2022.

It was highlighted that at times social media does tend to give false information and, to that end, the Khomas health directorate’s regional risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) pillar, presented Covid-19 related information at Khomas principal meetings.

Additionally, the RCCE visited many communities, both formal and informal, and distributed 16 900 “get vaccinated” flyers.

“All these efforts at different spheres of government are to provide accurate information at the right time, foster awareness, eliminate misinformation and associated fears about Covid-19 vaccination,” Shoopala said.

Nghikembua added that he hopes 2022 will be the year of quality academic results, but said this can only be obtained if we as a country control the spread of Covid-19.