28 Feb 2022

Senior  Ministry of Health and Wellness officials have called for new strategies and innovative ways to fight vaccination apathy and resistance to get booster shots.

Addressing a ministry leadership empowerment workshop in Gaborone’s Phakalane suburb yesterday, both permanent secretary Ms Grace Muzila and deputy Dr Tshepo Machacha said the current situation of low vaccine uptake called for innovation and creativity.

Crediting health personnel for having previously devised remarkable strategies for reaching out to people in order to get them vaccinated, Ms Muzila called on them to be even more creative in the face of low vaccination rate and public resistance  to booster shots.

She further advised them to engage and collaborate more with community leadership in their areas of operation to manage people in those localities.

For his part, Dr Machacha told his audience that people’s refusal to take booster shots should not dampen their spirits but should instead stimulate creativity to get people to comply.

Meanwhile Ms Muzila has commended the health professionals for their selfless efforts despite health care system challenges.

She said despite being subjected to attacks from patients frustrated by health care system failures,  health personnel had remained true to the profession.

“Doctors have been battling systemic issues in the health economy and issues that foster unhealthy work environments with an increased intensity of work, but you have managed to provide a robust healthcare service delivery,” Ms Muzila said.

Noting that 2021 was a challenging year for the profession, she said it however did not deter the health team from expediting COVID-19 vaccination.

“What you did was amazing as at the end of the year Botswana was counted among four countries in Africa that met WHO target of vaccination against COVID-19,” she said.

Dr Machacha also praised doctors and their teams for doing an excellent job in service delivery.

“The ministry is proud of you for your relentless efforts and work,” he said.

The five-day workshop will deliberate on different issues including leadership,  financial management, employee relations and departmental capacity. Ends