22 Aug 2021

 Vaccinated teaching fraternity members in Francistown and Tati Siding have been encouraged to continue adhering to COVID-19 protocols. 

Touring vaccination sites at the two places recently, Assistant Minister of Health and Wellness Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe warned them that they could still get infected. 

He said the prevailing COVID-19 variant known as Delta was not only deadly but did not spare any age group.

“Let me advise you to continue observing all the protocols of wearing masks, social distancing and washing hands with clean water and soap,” he said.

Teachers and support staff from both private and public schools in the two areas received their jabs on Saturday following government’s decision to prioritise vaccination of the teaching fraternity in order to ensure re-opening of schools.

He explained that the purpose of his visit was to appreciate progress in the vaccination campaign for teachers and non-teaching staff, the largest  public service cadre.

Mr Lelatisitswe thanked the target group for turning up in large numbers for vaccination.

“We have given you the opportunity and it is best you utilise it now,” he said.

The assistant minister said though vaccination was not compulsory, it was advisable to take it in order to protect oneself from the virus.

Meanwhile Tati Siding’s Ebat Guest House and Clifton Preparatory Private School in Francistown received special mention for availing their premises to be used as vaccination points free of charge. 

“This is the type of collaboration that we want as government in order to win the battle against COVID-19,” he Mr Lelatisistwe said.

Speaking in an interview, Greater Francistown vaccination coordinator Ms Boitshwarelo Masunda said the District Health Management Team (DHMT) had roped in the private sector  for the ongoing campaign.  

She said the private sector had good and conducive structures in place such as Wi-Fi which made carrying out the exercise easier.

Ms Masunda said since vaccination started last week, the exercise had been running smoothly except for the first day when a high turnout was experienced.

She said over 9 000 teachers and support staff were vaccinated on the first day and was hopeful that the approximately 4 000 remaining would have received their injection by yesterday.

Ms Masunda explained that Greater Francistown had reserved four sites for the vaccination of teachers and support staff.

Clifton Preparatory School Head, Mr Kevin Hambidge underscored the need for private sector involvement in the fight against the pandemic.

“As a nation, we have to work together in order to fight this pandemic. As Clifton we are very excited with the campaign because all our 24 teachers have been vaccinated,” he said.

Apart from serving as a vaccination centre, the school has also availed its teachers to serve as data clerks.   

On behalf of Botswana Defence Force (BDF), Warrant Officer Godwin Nyame briefed the assistant minister on the army’s role in the campaign.

  “Our role is to provide human resource,” he said adding to date  four  BDF nurses were helping in the campaign.

    He said BDF planned to provide more staff in all upcoming COVID-19 campaigns.

  Dr Ivan Kgetse, Greater Francistown DHMT coordinator, said the area was allocated 8 970 Johnson & Johnson doses out of which 40 per cent was reserved for teachers and non-teaching staff. Ends