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Determined to create greater acceptance for the COVID-19 vaccine amongst citizens, 150 Catholic priests and nuns have received their first jabs in Cross River State, south-south Nigeria.
The ministers, who are of the Ogoja Catholic Diocese in Cross River State converged on Bekwara local government area to get vaccinated by a team of medical practitioners led by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Betta Edu.
Edu expressed satisfaction with the Catholic church for taking the lead in the campaign to create acceptance for the COVID-19 vaccine and minimize death amongst the people.
The Health Commissioner said “I express appreciation to the Roman Catholic Church for it’s decision to collaborate with us to drive advocacy for COVID-19 prevention.
“The exceptional leadership nature of the church has improved widespread knowledge of the vaccine, various kind of variants, transmissivity and best management protocols as the virus keeps mutating.
“We need to quickly get 80 to 90 percent of our people vaccinated to achieve herd immunity and stop the spread of the disease. This is because everyone, who has died recently of COVID-19 are persons not vaccinated, while those who have had very severe symptoms are equally unvaccinated,” she stated.
She encouraged people especially those in the rural communities to access the vaccines to avoid dire consequences such as death.
Boosting immunity
Also speaking prior to the vaccination exercise, the Director General of the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Janet Ekpenyong, said that myths and misconception about the vaccines had eluded majority of the population causing panic and fear in the mind of the people.
According to Ekpenyong, the COVID-19 vaccine, like every other vaccines, was developed to boost the body’s ability to produce antibodies and boost immunity of individuals, stressing “which is the need for collective awareness creation for overall acceptance.”
She promised, “we are committed to the even distribution and administration of vaccines and ensure it is available in all primary, secondary and tertiary health facilities as well as in some designated temporary posts across the state.
“Since Cross River state achieved maximum coverage in the first phase of the nationwide vaccination exercise, expectations are on us to surmount that achievement. That informed our desire to take the awareness to religious leaders, whom we in turn expect to reach out to their parishioners,” she urged.
Supporting the cause
Responding on behalf of the Diocese, the Special Adviser to the Cross River governor on Religious Affairs, Reverend Father Bob Etta lauded Governor Ben Ayade for the numerous reforms instituted in the health sector.
Etta noted that citizens were poised to enjoying comprehensive healthcare services at the most affordable rate due to the establishment of the Cross River State Health Insurance Scheme also known as AyadeCare.
He promised to join others to mobilise
Parishioners for vaccination especially as the third wave of the COVID-19 variant continues to spread and affect lives across the country.
The vaccination was also extended to other members of the Abuochiche community in Bekwara local government area of Cross River State.
Lateefah Ibrahim
