Malawi Network of Older Person’s Organisation (MANEPO) has condemned people who claim that older persons will become blind once they receive Covid-19 vaccine, saying this is a total lie and a setback in Covid-19 pandemic response.
MANEPO Country Director Andrew Kavala made the condemnation at Sakata, Traditional Authority Nkagula’s area in Zomba during Covid-19 launch awareness campaign for older persons.
Kavala added that myths and misrepresentation of facts about Covid-19 towards older persons violate their rights to receiving medical care saying this is gross human rights violation.
He therefore encouraged the older persons to go and access the Covid-19 vaccine to prevent themselves from corona virus.
He said MANEPO will move door to door with chiefs along Lake Chilwa at Nkagula’s area to mobilise older persons to receive the vaccine.
‘We should not be cheated that Covid -19 is no longer there. The pandemic is still on because China continues to register new cases of Covid-19, ” the MANEPO Country Director added.
District Social Welfare Officer for Zomba, Christopher Ndaona said his office will see to it that all older persons have access to the Covid-19 vaccine.
He pledged to collaborate with MANEPO with extension workers in the district to reach out to older persons with positive messages about Covid-19.
He therefore commended MANEPO for introducing a project that intends to mobilise older persons to receive Covid-19 vaccine at Nkagula area in Zomba.
On his part, Traditional Authority Nkagula said he will also hold series of meetings to mobilise older persons to go for Covid -19 vaccine .
He therefore condemned people that communicate lies about Covid-19 to older persons saying this is very discouraging and uncalled for.
With financial support from UNICEF, MANEPO is working towards reaching out to 3000 older persons with Covid-19 vaccines in two weeks.
