By: Alusine Rehme Wilson
The Social Mobilization Pillar attached at the Bombali District Corona Virus Emergency Response Center has initiated a public sensitization to canvass residents to get vaccinated at the designated points where the COVID-19 vaccine is rolled out.
The Social Mobilization Pillar Lead at DiCOVERC Bombali, Alhaji Alusine Funkuba Fofanah, who is leading the sensitization, said they collaborated with the District Health Management Team (DHMT) in Bombali to raise awareness on the availability of the AstraZeneca (A-Z) vaccine in the district and the need for people to get vaccinated
Mr Fofanah and his team embarking on the sanitization are explaining the importance of people being vaccinated and the need to abide by the COVID-19 preventive measures which will minimize chances of contacting the virus.
On his part, the Operations Coordinator attached at the Bombali District COVID-19 Response Office, Colonel Idrissa Sonkoi Kamara said he is also leading engagement with Traditional and Religious Leaders in the district and will as well meet with both heads of schools, colleges and universities in Makeni to further encourage them take the jab and continued to abide by the health preventive measures.
Kamara further revealed his plans to mount robust security checks at bars, restaurants and other public places to ensure that they also abide by the COVID-19 preventive regulations. The checks he says will include the operations pillar mobilizing its security personnel to monitor compliance of revised COVID-19 preventive measures at all public places in Bombali District.
According to the District Medical Officer (DMO) at the Bombali District Health Management Team (DHMT) Dr. Foday Sesay, vaccination started five months ago (22nd March, 2021) with an initial supply of 5,765 dose.
He revealed that out of 7,456 doses of vaccines they have received for the both the first and second dose, a cumulative total of 4,293 Sino-Pharm and 3,163 AstraZeneca vaccines has been administered in Bombali district. Adding that “presently there are only four teams rolling out the vaccines but said he has already applied for the additional fourteen (14 teams) that will comprise of mobile teams to roll out the vaccines at various chiefdoms in the district.”
However, there are have been a record number of challenges such as: difficulty reaching rural chiefdoms for social mobilization and active case search and enforcement of health regulations (inadequate logistics support), delay in Incentives for staffs in the COVID-19 response, and Vaccination levels are still low which has been blamed on the delay in receiving the additional supply of AstraZeneca vaccine.
Pa. Amadu Sesay of Mankneh village in the Bombali Sere Chiefdom is the Chiefdom Traditional Healers Leader. He said he had taken both jabs of the Sino-pharm COVID-19 Vaccine last June and revealed he had no experienced any abnormality after he took both jabs.
“I’m urging fellow traditional healers in Bombali district and beyond to go for their jabs of any of the available vaccines at their nearest vaccination site because that will help us to combat this deadly virus.” He added.
Madam Isatu Turay, the Women’s Leader (Mammy Queen) at Konsho village said she had earlier fears of taking the vaccine due to what her relatives overseas have been saying about the vaccines but after listening to a radio program last week where the DiVCOVERC Bombali Coordinator and health workers spoke about the safety of vaccines.
“I have already took my first jab on Monday and till date I have not sensed any strange symptom, I’m normal as I have always been,” she explained.
She said she now belief that the COVID-19 vaccine is safe she will also encourage others to get vaccinated and be safe likewise.
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