08 Dec 2021

Vaccination of Lobatse residents against Covid-19 is progressing well with at least 67 percent of targeted population of people aged over 18 years receiving first doses.

In his speech to the full council meeting on Tuesday, Lobatse mayor, Mr Essop Pandor said records from November 5, 2021 indicated that 10 112 people over 18 years were fully vaccinated against the virus in Lobatse.

He pointed that the number translated to 44 percent of the estimated target population in the town. 

The mayor further highlighted that 15,425 people over 18 years had taken their first doses.

He said vaccines had been well accepted in the town, adding that there were no cases of any serious side-effects and people requiring hospitalization.

“I would like to applaud greater Lobatse District Health Management Team (DHMT) for increasing existing vaccination sites of Woodhall and Peleng community halls, VRTC and Model Day Care Centre, with two mobile teams. One team is stationed at the Lobatse Junction Mall while the other one is vaccinating staff at workplaces that have many employees,” said the mayor.

Mr Pandor pleaded with residents to continue observing Covid-19 protocols to protect themselves.

“We have entered the festive season and we continue to witness a variety of events that involve massive gatherings. May I kindly implore you to enjoy your time with families and friends while bearing in mind that the pandemic still exists, and that being vaccinated against Covid-19 does not mean you are immune to it,” he said.

On other issues, the mayor expressed concern about an increase in the number of street kids in Lobatse. 

He said there were 18 street kids regularly roaming around the town centre. 

He said most of them were school dropouts and regular school absconders.

“These children, whose parents are mostly young and single, get involved in gang related criminal activities, and some are sexually abused by other boys,” Mr Pandor said.

He said majority of them were registered orphans and had previously received counselling service from the town council. The mayor said town council, through department of Social and Community Development, was planning to engage with relevant stakeholders such as schools, parents and the local leadership in order to come up with a long lasting solution to the phenomena of street kids. 

He said town council had on its records a total of 168 orphans and vulnerable children, and 52 children in need of care. ends