By Prince J Musa in Kenema
As a way to ascertain whether the public has been convinced about the use of COVID -19 vaccines, a team from NACOVERC in collaboration with the District Health Management Team in Kenema has started monitoring the vaccination exercise in the district.
The delegation went to the Government Hospital, the Second Battalion military barracks and Panguma hospital in the lower Bambara chiefdom.
The District Medical Officer Dr Donald S Grant said they were able to bring onboard government officials and traditional authorities on the first day of the vaccination to get the jabs and assured that health workers will continue community engagement through mobile clinics so that the vaccination team can reach out to the population.
He urged all health workers to use the correct and appropriate measures to ensure quality service delivery and should build trust and confidence with the people.
Dr Grant assured NACOVERC that the district health management team is working with DICOVERC in all aspects connected to the fight against the virus and commended the stakeholders for their cooperation in mitigating the spread of the disease in the district.
NACOVERC spokesman Solomon Jamiru told the health workers and the general populace that had shown up to take the vaccine that it was safe and drew reference to President Julius Maada Bio and other senior government officials that had since been vaccinated.
He stated that the team from NACOVERC has been impressed with the report given to them from the district medical officer Kenema regarding Kenema was marvellous and we asked them to talk to others to take the vaccine’’.
He mentioned about the full cooperation of the military’s second battalion in voluntarily taking the vaccine, knowing fully well how there is the possibility of them performing peacekeeping duties overseas at some point in time and would find their decision for the jab useful.
Jamiru reiterated that Sierra Leone has been referred to as one of the country with the lowest rates of covid-19 pandemic due to the government’s robust action against the virus. He said they are aware of the safety of the populace and that they should trust the government’s assertion that the vaccines are safe.
The deputy Minister of Social Welfare who is also a psychosocial officer at Nacoverc Mohamed Haji Kellah said they were able to set up a team through social mobilization to tell the people about the efficacy of the vaccines.
He said turnout on the first day of the vaccination at district was low but that as the days went by compliance improved. He said people travelling out of the country should endeavor to take the vaccines.
Kellah dismissed what he described as misleading messages on social media about the vaccines and spoke about the inclusion by government of technical experts and professionals to make sure the process was safe and credible.
The medical superintendent for Panguma government hospital Dr Abu Minah expressed delight for the venture taken by NACOVERC in coming to assess their work as that will give motivation to the health workers and build confidence in the people that the vaccines have no negative effect.
Dr Minah commended his staff for being proactive and diligent in working with the people especially in this campaign. He said the sensitization campaign was going well in the communities.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online (26/03/21)
