Africa left behind in the Covid vaccine race
There is a profound imbalance in the distribution of coronavirus vaccines, with African countries having received only 2% of global vaccines, the United Nations (UN) has said.
UN Secretary General António Guterres, who issued a statement in commemoration of Africa Day on Tuesday, noted that there is a need to ensure equitable and universal access to Covid-19 vaccines to end the pandemic, support economic recovery and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
“On this Africa Day, I renew my call to developed nations to stand in solidarity with Africa. Covid-19 has triggered a global recession that has exposed deep-seated inequalities and vulnerabilities. It is endangering hard-won development gains throughout Africa and beyond,” he said, adding that the pandemic has also heightened the drivers of conflict by increasing inequalities and revealing the fragility of governance in many nations, particularly in the delivery of basic services such as healthcare, education, electricity, water and sanitation.
Moreover, Guterres stated that Africa’s rich and diverse cultural and natural heritage can provide a strong foundation for inclusive economic progress as the continent
strives to meet the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“This year’s Africa Day highlights arts, culture and heritage as levers for building the Africa we want.
Africa’s rich and diverse cultural and natural heritage is important for sustainable development, poverty reduction and building and maintaining peace,” he stated.
In an interview with Nampa on Tuesday, executive director in the ministry of health Ben Nangombe, however, stated that Namibia has so far received enough vaccines, considering the country’s supply cold chain facility.
“In terms of managing the vaccination campaign, we are okay because it will not be wise to hoard the vaccines because of supply cold chain management issues. You have to manage it in such a way that as you order, you use up what you have because if we keep them standing in the warehouses, they could expire on us,” said Nangombe.
Additionally, Nangombe stated that Namibia buys the vaccines through the Covax facility and has also approached manufacturers and their agents for supply.
Namibia has so far received 100 000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine, donated by the Chinese government; 30 000 doses of Covishield vaccine, donated from the High Commission of India in Namibia and 24 000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine through the Covax facility.