Although Health Minister Amar Ramadhin does not look dissatisfied on the past five months since the start of the vaccination campaign on February 23, he believes that communication with society should be stepped up. Information needs to be improved, especially in the districts of Marowijne, Coronie, Para, Brokopondo and Sipaliwini, because the vaccination coverage is low in these areas.
In the past five months, approximately 212,000 people have received the first shot, of which about 205,000 have been vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine. For a long time this was the only vaccine available in Suriname. Two weeks ago Suriname also had Sinopharm, of which about 6000 doses have already been administered and of which two injections are also given.
Of the more than 212,000 vaccinated, more than 42,000 have been fully vaccinated. Minister Ramadhin hopes to reach around 40 percent vaccination coverage within the next two months. However, this does not mean that more people will have to be reached. “We look not only at the number, but also at the risk areas and the districts,” says the minister.
“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 BOG and various experts to communicate with those areas in a different way.
The Medical Mission is committed in the interior to increase readiness through communication. Minister Ramadhin has held talks with a delegation with the traditional authority, which has pledged its full support. Suriname has the support of PAHO, UNICEF and the Netherlands Red Cross who will make resources available for communication in the areas where it is needed.
—
