With South Africa gearing to receive its first consignment of COVID-19 vaccines, President Cyril Ramaphosa has reiterated that government’s mass vaccination campaign strategy would reach all corners of the country, prioritising those most in need.
The President emphasised the commitment in the latest edition of his weekly newsletter on Monday 25 January
In coming weeks, the country will receive a batch of 1.5 million Astrazeneca vaccine doses from the Serum Institute of India, the world’s largest vaccine producer.
This, wrote the President, will signal the start of a mass vaccination campaign that will be the most ambitious and extensive in the country’s history.
“It will reach all parts of the country and will be phased to ensure that those most in need are prioritised. The first vaccines to arrive will be provided to health care workers, who will be targeted in the first phase.
“The second phase will include essential workers, teachers, the elderly and those with co-morbidities. The third phase will include other adults in the population,” President Ramaphosa said.
The comprehensive rollout strategy and an accompanying logistical framework will be implemented in partnership with the private sector, civil society, traditional leadership, the religious sector and others.
“It is vital that this is a society-wide campaign, in which everyone is involved and no-one is left behind,” he wrote.
“A year after the novel coronavirus started spreading around the world, the arrival of the vaccine gives great hope for our country’s social and economic recovery – and, most importantly, for the health of our people.”
The President said given the unprecedented global demand for vaccine doses, combined with the far greater buying power of wealthier countries, South Africa had to engage in extensive and protracted negotiations with manufacturers to secure enough vaccines to reach the country’s adult population.
“South Africa has engaged closely with the global COVAX facility and the African Union’s Vaccine Acquisition Task Team as part of the collective effort to secure vaccines for the world’s low- and middle-income countries. The doses that South Africa will receive through its participation in these initiatives, together with the agreements being made directly with manufacturers, are expected to ensure that the country has sufficient vaccines to contain the spread of the virus,” he said.
“From the moment the Coronavirus first reached our shores in March last year, we have acted swiftly and decisively, and informed by the best available scientific evidence, to save lives and protect livelihoods. Through the measures we have taken, we have been able to contain infections, protect our health system and prevent an even greater loss of life,” said the President.
He said: “Understanding that vaccines are essential if we are to overcome the pandemic, government has been working, both through multilateral initiatives and direct negotiations with manufacturers, to ensure South Africa can make the best use of vaccines when they become available”.
Regarding concern that government has not been sufficiently transparent about these efforts, President Ramaphosa said as government did with the announcement on the Serum Institute, the details of deals with manufacturers will be released as and when negotiations are concluded and we are released from the communications terms of the non-disclosure agreements.
“This is commonplace in such circumstances, and most governments have had to comply with similar restrictions,” he said.
“We recognise that it is important that the public must be kept abreast of developments on vaccine acquisition at all times. And government must be held to account for all the decisions it makes in this regard.”
Throughout the pandemic, he said, government has been open and transparent with the South African people on the health measures it is taking to secure the safety of people.
“We have sought to explain all our decisions, to listen to people’s concerns and to continuously update the country on the state of the disease,” he said.
He added: “All of us need to be part of this national effort and not allow the spread of rumours, fear and mistrust. False information and fake news can and does put lives at risk. We all need to work together to build confidence in the vaccine, to demonstrate its effectiveness and its safety – and to emphasise its vital importance in overcoming this deadly disease”.
For its part, he wrote, government will work to improve all its channels of communication, to keep the public regularly informed on the development of the vaccination programme, to provide information that is accurate and factual, and to continue to engage with and listen to the broad range of voices in society.
“We have a massive task ahead of us, probably far greater than any of us has ever undertaken before. But if we work together, if we support and trust each other and if we keep the lines of communication open, we will certainly succeed,” said the President.
With South Africa gearing to receive its first consignment of COVID-19 vaccines, President Cyril Ramaphosa has reiterated that government’s mass vaccination campaign strategy would reach all corners of the country, prioritising those most in need.
The President emphasised the commitment in the latest edition of his weekly newsletter on Monday 25 January
In coming weeks, the country will receive a batch of 1.5 million Astrazeneca vaccine doses from the Serum Institute of India, the world’s largest vaccine producer.
This, wrote the President, will signal the start of a mass vaccination campaign that will be the most ambitious and extensive in the country’s history.
“It will reach all parts of the country and will be phased to ensure that those most in need are prioritised. The first vaccines to arrive will be provided to health care workers, who will be targeted in the first phase.
“The second phase will include essential workers, teachers, the elderly and those with co-morbidities. The third phase will include other adults in the population,” President Ramaphosa said.
The comprehensive rollout strategy and an accompanying logistical framework will be implemented in partnership with the private sector, civil society, traditional leadership, the religious sector and others.
“It is vital that this is a society-wide campaign, in which everyone is involved and no-one is left behind,” he wrote.
“A year after the novel coronavirus started spreading around the world, the arrival of the vaccine gives great hope for our country’s social and economic recovery – and, most importantly, for the health of our people.”
The President said given the unprecedented global demand for vaccine doses, combined with the far greater buying power of wealthier countries, South Africa had to engage in extensive and protracted negotiations with manufacturers to secure enough vaccines to reach the country’s adult population.
“South Africa has engaged closely with the global COVAX facility and the African Union’s Vaccine Acquisition Task Team as part of the collective effort to secure vaccines for the world’s low- and middle-income countries. The doses that South Africa will receive through its participation in these initiatives, together with the agreements being made directly with manufacturers, are expected to ensure that the country has sufficient vaccines to contain the spread of the virus,” he said.
“From the moment the Coronavirus first reached our shores in March last year, we have acted swiftly and decisively, and informed by the best available scientific evidence, to save lives and protect livelihoods. Through the measures we have taken, we have been able to contain infections, protect our health system and prevent an even greater loss of life,” said the President.
He said: “Understanding that vaccines are essential if we are to overcome the pandemic, government has been working, both through multilateral initiatives and direct negotiations with manufacturers, to ensure South Africa can make the best use of vaccines when they become available”.
Regarding concern that government has not been sufficiently transparent about these efforts, President Ramaphosa said as government did with the announcement on the Serum Institute, the details of deals with manufacturers will be released as and when negotiations are concluded and we are released from the communications terms of the non-disclosure agreements.
“This is commonplace in such circumstances, and most governments have had to comply with similar restrictions,” he said.
“We recognise that it is important that the public must be kept abreast of developments on vaccine acquisition at all times. And government must be held to account for all the decisions it makes in this regard.”
Throughout the pandemic, he said, government has been open and transparent with the South African people on the health measures it is taking to secure the safety of people.
“We have sought to explain all our decisions, to listen to people’s concerns and to continuously update the country on the state of the disease,” he said.
He added: “All of us need to be part of this national effort and not allow the spread of rumours, fear and mistrust. False information and fake news can and does put lives at risk. We all need to work together to build confidence in the vaccine, to demonstrate its effectiveness and its safety – and to emphasise its vital importance in overcoming this deadly disease”.
For its part, he wrote, government will work to improve all its channels of communication, to keep the public regularly informed on the development of the vaccination programme, to provide information that is accurate and factual, and to continue to engage with and listen to the broad range of voices in society.
“We have a massive task ahead of us, probably far greater than any of us has ever undertaken before. But if we work together, if we support and trust each other and if we keep the lines of communication open, we will certainly succeed,” said the President.
Infographics for you to use to help you manage your on NCDs condition during COVID-19. These infographics, created with our partners, and used on the SANCDA helpline and used by the government.
On 30 November, 2020 the current version of the NCDs NSP (draft 4 2020) was circulated to the NDoH Technical Committee for comment. We asked our stakeholder to comment again. However, within days the NDoH referred the draft Public Health England (PHE) for peer review. The methodology of the peer review is not known but members of the TC were asked to make input. WHO NCDs country representative, Dr Mwangi and I made comments. Click here to view.
We understand that the review is complete and await feedback and the consultant working on the NSP, contracted by the Better Health Programme, stated that it is likely in the next two weeks. As soon as we know, you will know!
The newly appointed Health Department Director General Sandile Buthelezi will take the reins from 1 June 2020.
Buthelezi, whose appointment was announced a fortnight ago, will take office at a critical time with the country and the world at large in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic.
His first day in office will coincide with the country’s move to alert level 3 of lockdown.
“I wish to take this opportunity to congratulate Dr Buthelezi and believe that he is certainly up to the task,” said Health Minister, Dr Zwelini Mkhize, upon welcoming Buthelezi.
A medical doctor, Buthelezi brings a wealth of experience having worked in the implementation and rolling out of government’s strategy to fight HIV and TB in our country. He has also worked with international organisations that have over the years given support to South Africa in its health programmes.
Dr Buthelezi, also carries direct knowledge of challenges faced by public health facilities, having worked as a superintendent of hospitals at a young age.
While welcoming Buthelezi, the Health Minister expressed appreciation to the Acting Director General, Dr Anban Pillay who has been acting since the departure of the former DG.
“We also wish to bid farewell to Dr Yogan Pillay, the DDG for Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases prevention, treatment and rehabilitation who is going into early retirement after working for the national Department of Health for 23 years,” said the Minister.
Under Pillay’s leadership South Africa’s HIV treatment programme grew to become the largest in the world, new vaccines were introduced as part of the expanded programme on immunisation and infant, under five and maternal mortality rates have declined significantly.
In December 2019, Dr Pillay requested to take early retirement in order to join the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) as Country Director for South Africa and senior advisor on Universal Health Coverage for CHAI globally. CHAI began working with the South African government in 2003 and has operated in the country since 2008.
South Africa anchors many global pricing deals that reduce the costs of essential health products and allows other countries to save on the same products.
CHAI has over the years been one of the organisations that have supported the department to improve access to lifesaving treatment, diagnosis, and prevention of HIV, tuberculosis and malaria as well as maternal and neonatal health, sexual and reproductive health, non-communicable diseases including cancer as well as health financing. “We wish Dr Yogan Pillay well in his future endeavours,” said the Minister.
