By EbrimaMbaye
World Health Organization [WHO] in collaboration with the Ministry of Health orientated Civil Society Organizations on the Covid-19 campaign at TANGO in Bakau.
Speaking at the orientation, Dr. Mulowooza Michael of WHO revealed that the campaign will cover all regions in the Gambia from 1st March to 10th March 2023.
He also said they have priority groups such as teachers, health workers, security personnel’s and children between the ages of 12 to 17years.
Dr. Mulowooza noted that so many factors are affecting the uptake of the vaccination and these are the non-involvement of established community structures, lack of consent from household leaders, rumors and misinformation and negative social media influence.
On her part Aziza Amina also from WHO stated that they have put strategies in place to ensure that the 10 days’ campaign goes as expected.
“We have fixed team- based in health centers, town centers, markets, and schools to ensure that our targeted priorities are met.”
She therefore urged stakeholders to take it as a duty to make people aware of the importance of the covid-19 vaccination on media platforms, mobilize family members, schools and most importantly encourage the public to seek the right information from credible sources.
However, Lamin K. Fatty from The Gambia Federation of the disabled stressed that the issue of calling the Ministry of health on 1025 only is still restricting and limiting the participation and involvement of the person with disabilities in this campaign. Arguing that “At times these people will have issues related to such and can’t spew it because of their condition.
“I think it’s about time the MOH introduced other remedies to ensure that these people will be involved and not neglected.”