The progress of the immunization campaign in Mali has yet to meet expectations. Although national authorities set a target to vaccinate 70% of the population aged 12 and above, the current coverage remains below 8%. In response to this situation, a United Nations delegation traveled to the country in early October to assist the government in aligning with the National Deployment and Vaccination Plan (PNDV).
“Multiple initiatives are currently in progress. Our mission is to collaborate with the administration and its partners to reinforce ongoing actions and ensure the Mali population is protected against Covid-19,” stated Ted Chaiban, the UN lead coordinator for vaccine readiness.
Related: WHO expresses concern over potential Covid-19 resurgence as African vaccination rates stall
The challenge of public persuasion
While in Bamako, the official praised the Mali Red Cross for its robust organizational framework in managing the health crisis. This system brings together various players to train volunteers and educate the public, while also providing protective gear against a virus whose impact has recently lessened across the West Africa region.
Nevertheless, fostering trust remains a complex task. With the prevalence of Covid-19 dropping significantly, many citizens show deep-seated reluctance toward the vaccine, making the mission to increase uptake particularly difficult for local health authorities.
You may also like
-
Kemi Seba’s arrest in South Africa: why Benin is his safest option
-
Russian-backed forces disrupt massive coup attempt in Mali
-
Mali’s growing insecurity as russian mercenaries negotiate with rebels
-
Mali’s russian partnership crumbles as reality bites hard
-
Yéhvann Diouf reflects on the controversial Sénégal-Maroc final