Africa-Press – Lesotho. AIDS HealthCare Foundation (AHF) Lesotho, through its currently running campaign called Vaccinate Our World (VOW), intends to improve accessibility of
Coronavirus vaccines to all people especially those in underdeveloped and developing countries regardless of the countries’ economic status. Lesotho Council of Non-Governmental Organizations (LCN) Health, Education and Social
Development Coordinator Sebabatso Ntlamelle explained that VOW is an international initiative through which Lesotho intends to access the vaccine in order to get her people vaccinated.
Ntlamelle added that by doing so, they ensure the accessibility and equity of vaccines to every Mosotho who is in need regardless of geographic location, gender, ability or disability.
“This time around specifically, we are looking at COVID-19 vaccines,” she said. She
further said this initiative has been going on for a year now and its mission is to make vaccines available in every country regardless of its Gross Domestic
Product (GDP). Ntlamelle continued to state that looking at some countries, especially those in Africa, where it takes longer for the vaccines to reach to people, the
vaccines need to be brought closer to every person whenever as there is a need for vaccination. “As a country we have now taken a large and positive step, therefore
we can proudly say there is availability of vaccines and so far there are only three types available being: AstraZeneca, Johnson and Johnson as well as
Sinopharm” she disclosed. She emphasized that every Mosotho should be given freedom to choose the type of vaccine they would like to take among the three available types.
Ntlamelle noted that with this campaign, they are trying to make Basotho aware that there is availability of information for them to understand the importance of taking the
vaccine, its risks and its positive aspects. AHF Lesotho Medical Director Dr Patrick Kanyema said VOW campaign is a call that AHF and other partners should advocate for to ensure the global COVID-19
vaccination effort to secure M1.4 Trillion from G20 countries in order to produce and provide 7 billion vaccine doses worldwide within a year for developing
countries, mostly those in Africa. To waive or suspend all COVID-19 patents sharing of technology and intellectual property. He added that they also need to promote international cooperation between state countries that is why AHF with other partners made this request to VOW.
