UL vaccination site: Over 5 000 residents receive their jab
The director of UL's health and wellness centre, Norman Letebele says that since the launch of the site last month thousands of people in the Mankweng area have taken advantage of the opportunity to get their jabs.
POLOKWANE – In the two weeks that passed since the Department of Health launched a vaccination site at the University of Limpopo (UL), thousands of people in the Mankweng area have been vaccinated against Covid-19.
UL’s professor Kwena Masha says as of August 9, 5 398 people had been vaccinated at the site.
UL’s acting senior publications practitioner for marketing and communications Johannes Selepe told BONUS that thousands of people have visited the site to get their jabs and to register.
“The site was opened as a secondary vaccination point for the Mankweng Hospital to assist people in the area.
The director of UL’s health and wellness centre, Norman Letebele said he was encouraged by the tremendous response from the communities around the university. “It was heart-warming to see our elderly citizens arriving at the centre as early as 06:45 to take advantage of the opportunity our institution is offering.
Photo supplied University of Limpopo.
The healthcare workers at the centre have shown a remarkable sense of dedication and sacrifice, putting their own health at risk,” Letebele said.
He applauded the personnel at the centre for taking on more responsibility in addition to their regular duties.
“Despite the fact that the staff were already overburdened, they chose to be there for the community by going the extra mile and taking on the vaccination project. I’m incredibly proud of our healthcare heroes at UL,” he said.
Letebele also stated that those who believe in conspiracy theories are hesitant to register as numerous false rumours are propagated through fake news aimed to misinform people and create misconceptions about the vaccination.
“We contended that children and adults in South Africa and around the world have been receiving immunisations for many years.
Vaccines have prevented millions of children from illness and death due to measles, polio, and mumps. This is also true with the Covid-19 vaccination. This vaccine is our best hope to prevent millions of people from becoming seriously ill and lowering the rate of death from Covid-19,” he said.
Letebele adds that individuals who choose to vaccinate are responsible citizens who take their health and wellness seriously and they will not regret it.
“Health, like learning, is not a spectator sport.
No one has ever lived a healthy lifestyle or achieved exceptional results by simply watching.
You must be a part of the game, take a stand, live responsibly, and be accountable. It is your health, and no one can live a healthy life for you,” he said.
The vaccination drive at UL will continue until the end of October.
