Humanitarian organisation Red Cross Malawi has disclosed that it has reached out to 1.8 million people in its ongoing Covid-019 vaccination campaign.
Red Cross Malawi with funding from Mastercad Foundation and Africa CDC through Botswana Red Cross is running an 18 months Covid-19 Vaccination campaign in selected districts across the country.
The Organisation has since partnered with AMREF International and KUHES to successfully run the campaign.
Speaking in an interview, Red Cross Malawi Head of Health and Social Services Dan Kapombozola Banda aid as an organisation they are impressed with the response they are getting from people in the areas where the project is being implemented.
“We had targeted to reach out to 900 000m thousand people but as we speak we have reached out to slightly above 1.8 million meaning we have surpassed our target which to us is a plus”, he said.
He however conceded that they are experiencing challenges from the communities following World Health Organisation’s declaration that Covid-19 is no lo0ngher a public health threat.
“As you know cases of Covid-19 are on the decline so most people feel that there is no need to be vaccinated so that is a challenge on our part to convince people to get vaccinated”, he said.
Meanwhile one of the beneficiaries of the project Jofina Maritino of Buluzi 2 Village in T/A Kalumba Lilongwe who was vaccinated in the comfort of her home has since urged people to get vaccinated to boost their immunity.
“I know there is a lot that is being said about the Cpovid-19 vaccine as regards to its side-effect but look at me I’m vaccinated and imp ok”, she said.
According to her the door to door campaign is important as [people will no longer have to travel long distances especially for the elderly who cannot cover long distances.
The project which will run through this year is being implemented in Blantyre, Lilongwe and Mzuzu with Red Cross playing a leading role in mobilising communities while Amref is carrying out the actual vaccination exercise.
