By Sainabou Gassama & Nyima Sillah
Ministry of Health in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), last Thursday engaged 30 media personnel on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in The Gambia.
The daylong training was held at Baobab Hotel, Bijilo, in West Coast Region.
Speaking at the orientation, Mr Momodou Gassama health promotion expert at WHO said media contributes a lot in combating Covid-19 in The Gambia.
He described the role of the media as paramount in the fight against the Covid-19 and its impacts on the people and development of the nation. Mr. Gassama noted that the pandemic has impacted badly in the socio-economic development of the world in general.
“Over 266,003,942 people are affected by the virus and over 5 million people have died with the virus in the world in general,” Gassama said.
He said the new wave of the covid-19 called Omicron is more serious than the previous variants.
Mr Gassama disclosed that the rate in which the disease is going is very alarming due to vaccine hesitancy among people living in the Gambia, while he called on Gambians to get vaccinated as the vaccine in the market are safe and recommended by World Health Organization.
He later urged the massive to take up the opportunities and utilize it.
Sanjally Trawally deputy director of health promotion and education said there is need to respect the protocol and measures of the COVID-19 most especially with the eruption of the new wave.
Mr. Trawally, noted that, it is important for the people to get vaccinated in order to prevent the spread of the virus in the country, adding that it is crucial for the massive to take up the vaccine and promote a world with no virus.
“Vaccine is the only solution that can save life, and it’s effective to control the virus.” he said while urged the media to encourage people to take the vaccine for the benefit of all, as it available in all health facilities or major health posts around the country.