Limpopo mjolo

Photo: Twitter / @HealthLimpopo

‘Mjolo slaps better when you are protected’: Limpopo youth vax campaign gets the side-eye

The Limpopo Health Department set social media on fire when it unveiled its latest campaign aimed at tackling vaccine hesitancy among the youth.

Limpopo mjolo

Photo: Twitter / @HealthLimpopo

The provincial government in Limpopo is clearly thinking outside the box when it comes to promoting vaccination uptake. On Thursday, 26 August, the local department of health unveiled a social media campaign poster – emblazoned with Health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba’s face – that either had people in stitches or up in arms.

LIMPOPO VAX CAMPAIGN TARGETING YOUTH MISSES TARGET

The Limpopo government’s poster targeted at those 18 and older, encouraged residents to take their identity cards and head to the 37 vaccination sites in the province, including the University of Limpopo, University of Venda and other private sites.

The most prominent slogan reads, “Mjolo slaps better when you are protected.” Underneath it is two more slogans, next to an illustration meant to mirror the iOS on/off switches on smart phones, which read, “No Condom, No Sex” and “No Vaccine Certificate,  No Dating.”

“So this poster was made and discussed in the boardroom and you all agreed to this? Seriously?” questioned one Twitter user.

“This is an insult to the youth of SA,” added another. “The only thing they can be associated with to convince them to vaccinate is sex and mjolo during an unemployment pandemic? ‘What do they know about job and business opportunities anyway, huh?’”

This latest campaign to deal with vaccine hesitancy in Limpopo comes after Ramathuba said the province was in discussions with the alcohol industry with a view of preventing the sale of alcohol to unvaccinated people, earlier this week.

Ramathuba’s revelation coincided with the news that you may need a “vaccine passport” to buy alcohol in South Africa. The initiative is being considered by the SA Liquor Brand owners Association (SALBA) as a means to improve vaccination uptake across the country, according to DispatchLIVE. A proposal is expected to be presented to the National Health Council on Thursday.