"Africa's political power must focus on raising community awareness to ensure the success of vaccination against the covid-19 pandemic," the World Health Organization's (WHO) director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, argued on Monday.

According to her, there is a need for coordination of efforts and diversification of funding sources to ensure vaccination in the various African countries.

"I was very happy to hear the emphasis on the role of communities. They are the recipients of messages that help persuade Africans to be vaccinated," stressed Matshidiso Moeti, who was speaking at a videoconference hosted by the African Union (AU), with its Center for Disease Control and Prevention, to discuss the tailored response strategy for covid-19.

In this regard, Moeti also highlighted the need to open up partnerships in the fight against the covid-19 pandemic to the private sector.

"At this meeting the importance of all kinds of partnerships was stressed. The role of the private sector, for example. It has to be strengthened," the source agreed, also stressing that "Africans must be able to be vaccinated and, at the same time, we have to strengthen and develop our health systems.