Health workers who have helped inject passion and drive into South Africa’s national vaccination campaign have been recognised for the sterling work they are doing to combat Covid-19.
Over 350 000 people were vaccinated during the inaugural Vooma Vaccination Weekend campaign held across the country this past weekend. The success of this campaign is a testament to the hard work of the nation’s healthcare workers, and provided the perfect opportunity to recognise their efforts.
Over 2 000 health workers and health service managers will receive a certificate signed by President Cyril Ramaphosa in appreciation of their work. “These awards are based on nominations from provinces and districts, and we hope to be able to show similar recognition at the next Vooma Vaccination Weekend planned for November,” says Ath’enkosi Sopitshi, who is part of the Department of Health’s Demand Acceleration Task Team.
A national awards ceremony was held in Katlehong, Gauteng, on Friday (October 1), with Ramaphosa awarding certificates to the health teams from the top three performing provinces. The vaccination champions are the Eastern Cape (gold), Limpopo (silver), and the Western Cape (bronze).
“These awards are based on overall coverage, vaccination of people older than 50 – who are at higher risk of severe illness and death, and the ratio of vaccinated people with and without medical aid. While the ratio should be 1:1, the rate of vaccination among uninsured people is still lower than those who are insured,” says Sopitshi.
The health workers in the districts and sub-districts were also acknowledged and the provinces will be hosting their own awards to recognise their efforts.
Individuals were also singled out for praise, including Sindi Gede, who leads a team at Amathole in the Eastern Cape, which was declared the best performing district; and the men and women in the Overberg District in the Western Cape, for the outreach work they do to ensure residents in remote areas are vaccinated.
“We have no way of recognising everyone’s contribution, but hope that those who do receive acknowledgement will see themselves as representatives of their colleagues as well,” says Sopitshi.
The health worker recognition programme not only shone a light on the efforts of the health sector, but showed how partners and community-based organisations are rallying behind the call to get South Africa vaccinated.
Sopitshi acknowledged Caxton Local Media for ‘heeding the call to support health workers who are the driving force behind our vaccination success’.
Get vaccinated
During Vooma Vaccination Weekends, vaccination centres and pop-up points will be open all day Friday and Saturday, in all corners of the country.
Ramaphosa re-iterated on Monday (October 4) that people wishing to be vaccinated simply need to visit a vaccination centre – without needing an appointment – and present an identity document that will allow them to be registered and vaccinated immediately and free of charge.
Enquiries: Call the toll-free Covid-19 hotline on 0800 029 999.
