EU Ambassador witnesses arrival of COVID-19 vaccines in Eswatini

This shipment, which arrived aboard a cold truck from South Africa, is the first batch of 108 000 doses allocated to Eswatini by the COVAX facility.

On hand to receive the vaccines at the Central Medical Stores in Matsapha was EU Ambassador to Eswatini, Esmeralda Hernandez Aragones along with the Minister of Health, Lizzie Nkosi, as well as other dignitaries including parliamentarians.

Speaking during the ceremony to receive the vaccines, EU Ambassador, Hernandez Aragones, highlighted that the EU and its Member States are major contributors to the COVAX facility. She said at the moment the EU and its Member States have contributed a total of EURO 2.2 billion to help ensure equitable access to the COVID-19 vaccine by developing countries including Eswatini.

The Ambassador added that the vaccine will ensure the health of the Swati citizens and help restore normal life in the country in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This demonstrates the EU’s commitment to assisting its partner countries such as Eswatini in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic,” said the Ambassador.

In response, the Minister of Health, Lizzie Nkosi, expressed government’s happiness at the arrival of the vaccines. The Minister paid tribute to the EU and other donors who have contributed to the COVAX facility to ensure that developing countries such as Eswatini are able to access the COVID-19 vaccines.

She went on to say her government will now go ahead to inoculate the country’s citizens starting with healthcare workers. The Minister said the inoculations will help stop the spread of COVID-19 in the country and ensure that life returned to normal.