Oshana medical staff queue up for Covid-19 vaccine
OSHAKATI - Doctors and nurses in Oshana yesterday queued up to be vaccinated for Covid-19 at the Oshakati Intermediate Hospital. The region yesterday commenced with the Covid-19 vaccination with the Director of Health in Oshana, Johanna Haimene taking the lead in getting vaccinated.
This week, the vaccination will be facilitated at the Oshakati Intermediate Hospital, Ongwediva Medipark and Ondangwa Private Hospital.
A mobile team will also be visiting health centres across the region.
Haimene said plans are underway for vaccination to be rolled out at all health centres in the region to avoid people trekking long distances to access the vaccine.
“We want the services to be accessible to as many people as possible,” said Haimene.
She encouraged the community to acquaint themselves with the necessary information on the vaccines and thereafter get vaccinated.
She cautioned the community that the vaccination does not treat Covid-19.
“We are not getting vaccinated to get
cured when we are sick. The vaccination reduces the chances of getting infected. We are protecting ourselves and those around us. In other words, we are reducing chances of becoming sick and being hospitalised,” Haimene said as she encouraged the public to get vaccinated.
Oshana joined the rest of the country in rolling out the vaccines.
Namibia has a target of 60% of its population vaccinated against Covid-19.
Acting medical superintendent at the Oshakati Intermediate Hospital, Dr Asumani Kibandwa, who was the second person to receive the Covid jab in Oshana, encouraged those who have not yet been vaccinated to come forth.
The doctor said he was feeling well minutes after he was vaccinated.
“The outcome of Covid-19 is not known. I prefer to get vaccinated than to be a Covid-19 patient and I don’t want you to be a Covid-19 patient, so please come get your shot,” Kibandwa appealed.
Oshana’s Covid-19 report for Thursday indicated 2 905 cumulative cases and 40 deaths. The data showed a weekly downward trend in confirmed cases, according to Haimene.