UNICEF Launches Campaign to Boost COVID-19 Vaccinations in Africa

UNICEF on Wednesday started an eight-week campaign to help boost COVID-19 vaccinations across Africa.

UNICEF said the first-ever U-Report Challenge which came a week after COVAX delivered its billionth dose in Rwanda, called on all 13.3 million U-Reporters in Africa to help get vaccines to the unvaccinated.

A statement issued in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi read “through improving access and confidence in COVID-19 vaccines, the #GiveItAShot challenge aims to activate young people in motivating those eligible in their community to get vaccinated.’’

U-Report is a messaging tool that empowers young people around the world to engage with and speak out on issues that matter to them.

The U-Report is currently active in 88 countries worldwide, with 19.3 million U-Reporters all over the world, and works with SMS, Facebook Messenger, Viber, Telegram, and WhatsApp.

According to UNICEF, COVID-19 information and advocacy messages have been packaged and disseminated via SMS, Facebook Messenger and other communication channels.

UNICEF said the campaign dubbed: “U-Report #GiveItAShot challenge” which would initially focus on six countries on the continent, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Zimbabwe, would be rolled-out for eight weeks.

It said weekly messages would be sent on U-Report to encourage young people to learn about COVID-19 vaccines. They would be engaged in community actions (both online and offline).

It is estimated that about 10 per cent of the adult population on the African continent are vaccinated.

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Africa reached 10,609,112 as of Tuesday, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

It said the death toll across the continent stood at 237,197 and 9,534,559 patients had recovered from the disease so far.