232news
By Ibrahim Joenal Sesay
The ambition of reaching the remaining 30 percent of Sierra Leone population with the Covid-19 vaccine is making headway across the country headed by FOCUS 1000 which is currently running an Africa CDC funded Covid-19 vaccination campaign designed to boost the country’s uptake.
In Karene District, a group of vaccinators moved across that district to vaccinate people. Sierra Leone recently reduced the age limit for those eligible to take the vaccine to 12 years. At the Sierra Leone Muslim Brotherhood (SLMB) Secondary School in Kamakwie, hundreds of students willingly showed up to be vaccinated, some for the first time while others it was their second dose.
Sierra Leone started its vaccination drive in March 2021, one year after the country’s recorded its first case of the viral pandemic.
Speaking about the successes and challenges the team are face with over the past two months of the exercise, Karene District Coordinator, Focus 1000, Mrs. Tity Kamara, spoke about the role they have play in the vaccination process. She said it is not the first time Focus 1000 have been engaged in such activity as they are an accredited and well known organization in the country.
The earlier message, she went on they are giving out turned to be a success story as more people are now eager to take the vaccine.
She spoke about their collaboration with the District Health Medical Team (DHMT) on all their activities among other stakeholders.
She disclosed that Africa CDC thought it feet to reach them because of their good work over the years. Currently she added, they are giving Pfizer, Sinopharm, and AstraZeneca.
She appealed to resident to ensure that they take their complete does as the side effects of the vaccines are not major but minor once.
Karena District Group Team Lead of Red Cross Society, Mrs Rebecca N. Kargbo said due to different information some people were reluctant to take the vaccine through that
she said Karena got low turnout but now due to the intervention of Focus1000 and other partners, the awareness of the vaccine is across the district and there is a mass turnout.
“There is an increase of acceptance for people to take the vaccine. People now have the urged on their own to take the vaccine and the level of understanding has increased,” she confirmed.
Mrs Kargbo went on to disclose that they are using the local languages which majority can understand to convey their messages and resident embraced it by taking the vaccine and also they have served as example because they are the first set to take the vaccine and that is giving others the confidence to take it.
She also spoke about the cooperation they are getting from the Tribal Heads as they involved them from the start of the campaign.
Bai Sesay Social Mobilizer Focal Person from DHMT said they experience the fear and hesitancy was very high in the district more especially the rumors and misinformation that was going around but they got the message that has helped reduced the fear of the people.
He said vaccine is not for those that sick but for those that are healthy.
“One of the benefits of it after taking it, it will protect your immune system from diseases. That is why it is very important,” he said.
He confirmed that Paramount Chiefs are taking the vaccine in the presence of their people.
“This is a disease that transfers from person to person. The vaccine is safe and free if it is not so I would have told you,” Bai Sesay said.
MCHAid Nurse, Sinnah Dumbuya working at the maternity ward clinic at Kamakawie health Centre informed this media house that they have entered their third months in the vaccination process.
The SLMB Secondary School is one of the largest populated school at Kamakawie. Some of the pupil took their second dose in the presence of the pressmen.
Nurse Sinnah said they are targeting the school because of the vaccine age is from 12 and above. According to her they can vaccinate above 70 a day and they always educate people before they administer the vaccine.
Mohamed Foday Kabia a data Clark at Kamakewie Sip C Karena District expressed concerned about lack of charging on their phones to complete the data process. “We are getting megabyte, we are challenged to enter the second dose details because those that did the first does only left the EPI number with no information on it,” Kabia said.
He appealed for tablet and powered band for them to be able to speed up the process.
