Mbabane: Vocal Siphofaneni Member of Parliament (MP) Mduduzi ‘Magawugawu’ Simelane says as a country, Eswatini cannot be relying on donations and cheap lines when it comes to matters involving life and death.
This comes after the Kingdom of Eswatini on Thursday, received a batch of 20 000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine which came as a donation from the Republic of India.
In a telephonic interview with this reporter, on a lighter note, Simelane said the donations were appreciated but there were serious concerns surrounding it and those concerns should be addressed before inoculation.
Worth noting, the 20 000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines donated by the Republic of India to Eswatini have costed the government of that country at least ₹160 (E653 600).
According to the Economic times news, on or around March 11, the government of India was reported to have renegotiated the price at which it procures AstraZeneca, made by Serum Institute of India (SII), to about ₹160 per dose for the current phase of the vaccination programme, from ₹210 previously, inclusive of taxes.
This donation raised eyebrows among the masses of EmaSwati as the Acting Prime Minister Themba Nhlanganiso Masuku had announced to the nation that the government had set apart E200 million for securing the COVID-19 vaccines
Simelane who has been making ground breaking submissions in Parliament regarding the burning issues in the country of late, said the government should provide a sound budget for the health sector which will enable the government to procure vaccines not to rely on the donations.
Simelane said the lives of the people should be the government’s priority hence an investment that reflects that should be provided.
Simelane went on to speak about news circulation worldwide about this controversial vaccine. Simelane said if this news were true, it will be for the best that the government through its scientist gives an explanation to why this vaccine worth using in the country. He emphasized that if the news that the vaccine was causing blood clots, the ministry should find out if that was true and then give scientific proves that the vaccine is safe to use.
“COVID-19 is a war led by experiment and most this experiment is done on human as trials for the vaccines were done through human beings not animals,”
The MP said prior to all this, the very same vaccine was halted in neighboring country, South Africa following the fact that it proved to be ineffective against the new variant of which Eswatini confirmed to be having as well. Simelane emphasized that if the negative news about the vaccine were true why the government would be gambling with lives of Emaswati more especially the health workers as it was mentioned that they will be the first ones in the line to be inoculated. Simelane said if this vaccine poses any danger to the livelihood, who will then take be the sacrifice.
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