The South West Development Authority – SOWEDA, has taken on an even more active role in the fight against covid-19 in the region. The management of SOWEDA last Friday, September 17 2021, organized a mass covid-19 testing and voluntary vaccination exercise for all its staff. 

This campaign was absolutely essential as the General Manager Dr. Besong Ntui Ogork explains,

  “We are experiencing the third wave of covid-19 and the variant that is circulating we are told, is very dangerous and stronger than the previous ones…As it is often said, prevention is better than cure. With this new variant and the efforts government is making to protect its citizens, we thought it was our responsibility to carry out a campaign like this one.”

A commitment which SOWEDA treats with utmost importance as management staff took the lead during the scheduled testing and vaccination process, steering by example. 

Prior to the testing and vaccination proper, staff were sensitized on the risks of not knowing their covid status and were encouraged to ignore dangerous rumours and take the covid-19 vaccine. The sensitization discuss was presented by the Chief of Bureau for International Vaccination from the South West Regional Delegation of Public Health, madam Martha Ndiku, who led the team of medical experts invited by the management of SOWEDA to its Head Quarters for the testing and vaccination exercise.

The massive turn out for the campaign is proof that the staff of SOWEDA is working hand in gloves with management to maintain a healthy working environment and to keep the corona virus at bay.

A total of 68 staff were tested and 17 vaccinated. So far, SOWEDA has not suffered any fatalities as a result of covid-19 and management hopes to keep it this way. The General Manager has therefore encouraged all to continue respecting barrier measures. To match action to words, all staff will receive a fresh supply of hand sanitizers and disinfectant sprays to help them in the anti-corona fight. For even more protection, the GM has announced that no one will be allowed into the SOWEDA premises without a negative covid-19 test or a vaccination card. Management has also made plans for another mass testing exercise in the near future.