LIMPOPO – This is according to the Health MEC, Dr Phophi Ramathuba when she officially opened the University of Venda (Univen) secondary vaccination centre in the sports hall near Thohoyandou on July 27.
Ramathuba was joined by the vice-chancellor and principal at Univen, Dr Bernard Nthambeleni and health department in Vhembe’s senior manager, Robert Sirwali. This initiative is part of the relationship built between the Health Department and institutions of higher learning.
This site will be the secondary site to the current primary site at Tshilidzini Hospital, and will alleviate the current congestion at the Thohoyandou Health Care Centre.
“The site, which will focus on vaccinating students and staff from the university will also be open to the public especially now when our focus is mainly those above 35. We believe the site will become a prominent gathering place as of September 1 when those above 18 become eligible for their jabs,” the MEC said.
“We appreciate the University of Venda for taking the lead in partnering with the health department with this much-needed vaccination site for the communities around Thohoyandou,” she said.
Nthambeleni said they believe the site contributes to the fast-tracking of citizen vaccinations in the country.
“As a university we believe that vaccines save lives and if all our staff and students are vaccinated, we believe we will be in a position to resume our normal activities.
“We are also pleased that our final-year nursing students are trained to provide vaccination not only here at our university, but also in the other vaccination centres in the Vhembe region.”
