Vaccination campaign: Path to Covid-19 recovery and fulfilling SDGs

CELIA SOFIA STEPHANUSWith spiking new Covid-19 cases and deaths, the pandemic has added extra pressure to a nation already reeling.“The world has seen many crises over the past 30 years, including the Global Financial Crisis of 2007-09. Each has hit human development hard but, overall, development gains accrued globally year-on-year. Covid-19, with its triple hit to health, education, and income, may change this trend.” Covid-19 is no longer just a threat to human lives it now presents itself as a hurdle in the fulfilment of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” says the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) administrator Achim Steiner. The SDGs were created by the United Nations as the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for everyone around the globe. They address the global challenges face which including poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace, and justice.Addressing and besting the challenges that the poorest face-first, means that through their upliftment, it is possible to uplift everyone. This speaks to the principle of ‘Leave No One Behind’, which is at the essence of the SDGs.Covid-19 has eroded much of the progress achieved by developing countries, further pushing them into extreme poverty and deeper inequality. It has magnified the need to redouble efforts in the fulfilment of the goals. One way in which one can improve Namibia’s situation is by embracing and administering vaccines to protect the population.Zooming in on the current situation at hand, it has become apparent that the Covid-19 vaccination is perhaps the best hope for ending the pandemic. No one has to be left behind, and to put it plainly, if one wants to find the light at the end of this dark tunnel the majority if not all the eligible population needs to get vaccinated!Currently, Namibia’s roll-out vaccination plan which is on a voluntary basis is in place to assist in the recovery and so far, close to 150 000 people have been vaccinated, (the targeted population to reach herd immunity is pegged around 1.5 million). Through a successful vaccination campaign, SDGs like the improvement of health are being covered also, as they typically have a ripple effect on the other SDGs. The improvement of health means a healthy society, which in turn makes it a productive society, hence the need to get vaccinated.If one looks at SDG 4, which is champions quality education, it is evident that Namibia is starting to lose the ground gained. The virus has ripped through the school calendars forcing the postponement of classes and leaving the children to be home-schooled or dependent on remote and e-learning. Face-to-face teaching and learning for primary, secondary schools, and higher education institutions, including technical education providers, has been suspended as cases surged within the sector. This too can be managed, by simply encouraging citizens to get vaccinated, ultimately reducing the further spread of infections and schools can open up for face-to-face interactions.While correcting the negative effects of Covid-19 on the economy and the gains of development eroded will take time - we have to start somewhere, and that starting point is to get vaccinated and adhere to Covid-19 protocols and regulations.The return of normalcy is of paramount importance, as the virus is not only affecting the economy at large, but it is also delaying the implementation and attainment of SDGs.To achieve a balanced outcome in the vaccination- roll-out campaign, it is crucial for other sector players whether public or private, to facilitate employees to join the with the vaccination exercise – as prevention is better than cure. As much as the vaccination policy is a humanitarian policy, it is also an economic policy. Namibia needs successful vaccination, investments, and stability of the financial sector and through this, the attainment of SDGs is just a stone’s throw away. Ensuring that Leave No One Behind becomes a reality for Namibia and the region.

Vaccination campaign: Path to Covid-19 recovery and fulfilling SDGs

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-15

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Vaccination campaign: Path to Covid-19 recovery and fulfilling SDGs

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-15

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