In its effort to ramp-up the vaccination programme in the North West Province, with a special focus on the 18 to 34 years cohort, the provincial government has enlisted the services of an influencer to attract and vaccinate the youth in numbers.
Dr Thato Mosehle, an international pageant title holder, who is also a medicine intern at Klerksdorp-Tshepong Hospital in Matlosana, has been revealed as the official ambassador for the Provincial Covid-19 Vaccination Roll-out Campaign.
This was announced during the press briefing addressed by the Acting North West Premier, Motlalepula Rosho and MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha.
MEC Sambatha said every province has the responsibility to ensure that they recruit influencers in the vaccination roll-out programme to mobilise as many people as possible and meet the population immunity target.
“In the vaccination programme, we have a component of mobilisation of influencers and vaccination ambassadors. The purpose is to draw in the programme people of different influences to help us to mobilise the society to vaccinate. Dr Mosehle who is a PR person in her own right, will be a lead ambassador for the provincial vaccination programme” announced MEC Sambatha.
To date over 689 573 people have been vaccinated in the province. According to MEC Sambatha, the number is not that satisfactory hence they are doing all they can to intensify the programme and mobilise all cohorts to vaccinate.
Acting Premier, Motlalepula Rosho said the presence of Dr Mosehle will assist in mobilising all cohorts to vaccinate in their numbers especially in the Bojanala area.
“I’m happy that we identified Dr Mosehle as one of our influencers. I think with her PR experience as a young person, she will assist in taking our numbers high. We need to intensify in all fronts and ramp-up our numbers so that we reach the population immunity target of 2, 7 million by the 31st of December” said Acting Premier Rosho.
Working together with church and traditional leaders, the Department of Health will also direct more efforts in mobilising people in rural communities.
Dr Thato Mosehle expressed her delight and indicated that the campaign will afford her the opportunity to serve her province and spread awareness to the youth.
“This is in line with what I wanted to do. I want to make a difference where it matters the most. I understand the importance of vaccines. Most of us have taken vaccines before and they are not foreign to us. Being on the ground that’s where I want to be. I know the province will support me as much as possible” remarked Dr Mosehle.
The Health Department will formulate a programme on how Dr Mosehle will be conducting the vaccination roll-out campaigns around the province.