‘Communication must be stepped up’ – Less than 40 percent vaccinated
Minister Ramadhin of Public Health does not look dissatisfied on the past five months, since the first Covid-19 vaccination was administered in Suriname on February 23. However, the minister hastened to say that communication must be stepped up, especially when it comes to the districts of Marowijne, Coronie, Para, Brokopondo, Sipaliwini and the interior. Vaccination rates are still low in these areas.
In the past five months, approximately 212,000 people have received the first injection, of which 205,000 have received the AstraZeneca vaccine. For a long time this was the only vaccine available in Suriname. Two weeks ago, the country also had access to the Chinese Sinopharm, of which about 6,000 doses have already been administered and of which 2 injections are also given.
Of the more than 212,000 vaccinated, more than 42,000 have been fully vaccinated, so both injections have already been received. Minister Ramadhin expects that all vaccinated so far will go for the full vaccination. He hopes to reach around 40% vaccination coverage within the next two months.
However, this does not mean that more people will have to be reached. “We are not only looking at the number, but also at the risk areas and the districts,” said the minister. He says that the districts of Marowijne, Para, Brokopondo, Sipaliwini and Coronie are still quite behind in terms of vaccination. ‘Efforts are being made to increase vaccine readiness, but there is also a lot of noise, fake news, many questions, concerns and uncertainties.; According to Minister Ramadhin, these matters cannot be expected to change overnight. ‘It is the task of the government, the Ministry of Health, the Bureau of Public Health and various experts to do the communication with those areas in a different way.
Minister Ramadhin notes that because of the communication in the past five months, the number of those who have been vaccinated so far have been prepared to be vaccinated. It now turns out that there are other bottlenecks in the communication and that needs to be addressed. In the Netherlands, the Medical Mission is committed to increasing the willingness to vaccinate through communication.
Minister Ramadhin has held talks with a delegation with the traditional authority, which has pledged its full support. The minister says that willingness is a process and varies from person to person. Suriname has the support of PAHO, (Pan American Health Organization), UNICEF and the Netherlands Red Cross who will provide resources for communication in the areas where it is needed.
