Africa-Press – Tanzania. RUKWA Regional Commissioner (RC), Joseph Mkirikiti has directed health experts to provide training to local functionaries for them to participate fully in raising awareness to members of the public on the importance of Covid-19 vaccination.
He further said that the move was a concerted effort for Rukwa region to intensify the fight against further spread of the virus.
Mkirikiti issued the directive recently while opening the Primary Health Committee meeting held here in the municipality to evaluate the first phase of Covid-19 vaccination.
He further disclosed that the key challenge during the first phase of vaccination exercise was that the large number of grassroots leaders was not fully engaged on sensitizing members of the public on the importance of Covid-19 vaccination.
“Such setback was the major cause of delay in accomplishing the immunization exercises at village and street levels,”.
“We must strengthen and engage leaders at hamlet, ward, village and street levels so that they can participate fully on providing education and raising awareness to citizens to voluntarily turn up to get the jab” emphasized the RC.
Earlier, Acting Rukwa Regional Medical Officer (RMO), Ali Lubeba said a total of 17,757 citizens have received the Johnson&Johnson ” Janssen” jab, out of whom 7,182 are women and 9,575 are men.
Equally, Lubeba explained that the region has received 24,183 doses of Sinopharm Covid 19- vaccine.
He further disclosed that Sumbawanga and Kalambo District Councils each has received 3,600 doses while Sumbawanga municipality and Sumbawanga District Council each has received 4,800 doses.
He further noted that the remaining 6,000 doses of Sinopharm Covid 19 vaccine have been kept in main the pharmacy in Rukwa Regional Referral Hospital.
Lubeba further emphasized that to achieve full immunity against the virus, a person will need to receive two Sinopharm vaccines within 28 days.
Equally, the acting RMO urged members of the public to continue taking all preventive measures, including undergoing vaccination to prevent the spread of the Covid -19 pandemic.
“As well as turning up for vaccination at authorized health centers” added the acting RMO.
On his part, Chairman of Religious Leaders Peace Committee, Evangelical Lutheran Church Tanzania(ELCT) Diocese of Tanganyika/Rukwa, Rev Bishop Ambele Mwaipopo said the issue of sensitizing people to turn out in large number to get the jab is do or die, in concerted efforts to rescue the nation against the further spread of Covid -19 pandemic.
He urged health providers to continue educating members of the public on the importance of immunization by employing outreach programmes.
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