23 Mar 2021

The Greater Francistown District Management Health Team (DHMT) hopes to conduct a mini launch of the COVID-19 vaccine communication strategy prior to the envisaged roll-out, says Ms Dedzi Mfolwe.

Ms Mfolwe, who is acting DHMT coordinator for Greater Francistown, said in an interview on Monday that the mini launch would help arouse the interest cof the community.

The mini launch will follow the national launch by the Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Edwin Dikoloti on 17 March 2021.

During his address last week, Dr Dikoloti said the goal of the COVID-19 vaccine communication strategy was to promote vaccine acceptance and uptake by the public.

To demonstrate its readiness to administer the vaccine, the Greater Francistown DHMT has trained over 260 of its personnel.

Sensitization meetings have also been scheduled this week for private health practitioners and over 330 Red Cross foot-soldiers whose role in community mobilisation remains vital.    

Meanwhile, as of March 20, a cumulative 4 539 COVID-19 cases had been recorded in Greater Francistown. Over 600 are active cases while 380 are recovered cases. To date the district has recorded 41 COVID-19 deaths.

Masego, Lapologang and Botsalano lead the pack with a cumulative 824 cases followed by Donga, Botswelelo, Boikhutso and Shashe Mooke.

Ms Mfolwe also commended Botswana Defence Force for providing Greater Francistown with an ambulance to ferry the sick. She said the ministry has managed to recruit seven technologists, noting that it would ease acute manpower shortage.

She, however, said there was still too much work for the five doctors deployed at both Ntshe and Matsiloje isolation facilities.

She said Greater Francistown has also assigned a doctor and a nurse to provide care for COVID-19 infected people in isolation at homes in the city of Francistown. ENDS