Africa-Press – Lesotho. Mohahlaula Airlines had clinched a deal with the South African based Sphere – a refrigeration system company to distribute the Covid-19 vaccines within the Southern Africa region.
This the airline had said in its statement on Thursday. “Mohahlaula Airlines are proud to announce a partnership to distribute Covid-19 vaccines to protect
communities in Southern Africa. Mohahlaula and Sphere are working to collaboratively develop a comprehensive Covid-19 vaccine distribution plan that will ensure that vaccines are safely and efficiently distributed using cold
chain turnkey logistical solutions,” reads the airline statement in pertinent part. Mohahlaula Airlines is a Lesotho based commercial and charter air operator.
According to the airline’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Phafane Nkotsi, the first phase of the vaccines distribution will be rolled out in Lesotho and is anticipated to be completed during the
first quarter of 2021. The CEO added: “The installed cold chain solution will have a capacity of holding a minimum of 120 000 vials, in our custom made
refrigeration for our aircraft, capable of holding any Covid-19 vaccine available in the market today. ” “With over 50 years’ experience in the industrial
refrigeration market, our experience, reach and expertise enable us to provide custom-built refrigeration equipment to fit at national scale any temperature
band required pharmaceuticals. We look forward to a successful partnership and contribution to Lesotho’s Covid-19 vaccination drive,” Sphere’s CEO Marcel
Steinberg was quoted in the statement. The airline’s Commercial Manager, Khotso Marumo told Informative Newspaper that their air logistics and cold chain
storage are “in service with the Ministry of Health. ” It is not yet established at this stage if the private health care facilities will be licensed to
purchase and distribute the vaccines but the airline said should such arrangement be made, they are “open to discussions in expanding [their] transport and storage capacity”.
Earlier this month the Minister of Health Hon. Motlatsi Maqelepo told the nation that the country will begin rolling out Covid-19 vaccines from April.
He said about 20 percent of the population is set for immunisation during that time adding that the vaccines will be received in phases from the COVAX Facility, wherein three percent of those vaccines are
earmarked for health care practitioners, being frontline population. There will also be two batches to follow of 17 percent vaccines from the facility and it has not been established already as
to which group will be vaccinated. The Prime Minister Dr. Moeketsi Majoro said the country will set aside M240 million to procure the Coronavirus vaccines. It is anticipated that by end of 2021 the country will have carried out the herd immunisation.
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