Advertisement

Updated June 10th, 2021 at 19:00 IST

Flying doctors give COVID jabs in Africa's remotest spots

While some countries are contemplating vaccinating children, other countries like the remote mountainous Kingdom of Lesotho are still struggling to vaccinate health workers.

| Image:self
Advertisement

While some countries are contemplating vaccinating children, other countries like the remote mountainous Kingdom of Lesotho are still struggling to vaccinate health workers.

With supply limited, settlements remote, and terrain difficult to negotiate, the job of delivering vaccines has fallen to doctors traveling by light aircraft.

The Lethoso Flying Doctors Services have been delivering jabs to health workers in remote areas in an attempt to add to their vaccination figures.

While more than 2 billion vaccines have been administered across the world, on the African continent just 2% of the population has been vaccinated.

Many countries rely on donations from the World Health Organization's COVAX scheme.

Speaking to UK broadcaster Sky, a nurse with the flying doctor's services said she was "not comfortable" with the slow pace of the rollout.

"It's not fair to all, it has to be rolled out as quick as possible because this pandemic is killing people," said Mampho Leleka.

Frank Molefi, a resident of Kuebunyani, was concerned that even in the remote village he lives in, COVID is a threat.

"Of course it will come here, because human beings live here," Molefi said.

The Lethoso Flying Doctors Services campaign comes as some of the world's wealthiest nations prepare to meet at the G7 conference, with vaccine donations expected to be high on the agenda.

U.S. President Joe Biden has said he will announce a vaccine plan for the world during the summit.

 

Advertisement

Published June 10th, 2021 at 19:00 IST

Your Voice. Now Direct.

Send us your views, we’ll publish them. This section is moderated.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending Quicks

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Whatsapp logo