DURBAN - Mobile network company MTN and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are planning a joint launch of the “One More Push initiative” this Thursday to curb Covid-19 fatigue.
One More Push is a three-stage, phased initiative aimed at reinforcing the importance of continued mask-wearing regionally; driving vaccine safety and influencing vaccine acceptance; and ultimately celebrating vaccine adoption.
The African continent is racing to administer the Covid-19 vaccine amid growing population fatigue with restrictions imposed to curb the spread of the pandemic.
Last week the AU reported that it had procured a regional supply of 65 million Covid-19 vaccine doses for 51 member states. Of these a total 49.6 million vaccine doses had been reportedly administered, translating to an estimated 1.07% of the African population being vaccinated.
The One More Push campaign is a progression of MTN’s #WearItForMe campaign launched in August 2020, which encouraged everyone to wear a mask for their safety and that of their loved ones.
The One More Push campaign is aimed at combating complacency – encouraging those who are tired of wearing a mask to give it “one more push” and “keep it up” in a bid to prevent the spread of the virus while vaccines are being rolled out in the region.
Between May and June 2021, the Africa CDC reported an average increase of 29% in new cases reported each week.
Of the most populous countries in Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo, had a 57% average increase, South Africa had a 41% average increase, Kenya had a 16% average increase, Nigeria had a 13% average increase, while Ethiopia had a 23% average decrease and Egypt had a 21% average decrease.
However, South Africa was reported to be among the top five countries that have administered the most Covid-19 vaccines. The AU reported that Morocco had reached a 100% vaccine supply roll out with 18.9 million doses administered covering 24.27% of the country’s population; Egypt has administered 4.3 million doses covering 0.75% of its population; Nigeria, with 3.4 million doses, managed to cover 0.57% of its population; Algeria with 2.5 million doses has managed to cover 5.69% of the population receiving its first dose; and South Africa with 2.9 million doses managed to cover 0.57% of its population.
The One More Push campaign is an extension of the AU’s Adapted Africa Joint Continental Strategy for Covid-19 Pandemic. The strategy is said to focus on three key levers - Enhanced Prevention, Enhanced Monitoring and Enhanced Treatment - and is endorsed by Africa’s Health Ministers. The first phase of OneMorePush will centre around the prevention messaging advocating for and reinforcing the importance of continued mask-wearing, along with other virus transmission prevention measures.
THE MERCURY