COVID-19: Sultan of Sokoto urges traditional Leaders to support vaccination campaign

The Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Sa’ad Abubakar III has urged traditional leaders in the northern part of Nigeria to support the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination campaign ongoing in Nigeria.

READ ALSO: Sokoto State sensitizes stakeholders on COVID-19 vaccines rollout

He made the call at the 2021 Second Quarter Review Meeting of the Northern Traditional Leaders Committee on Primary Health Care Delivery (NTLC), in Abuja.

The Sultan said that it is important that members of the NTLC continue to put in their best effort towards government initiatives that are beneficial to their communities.

“I am encouraged and proud of the action taken by some members of the traditional institution especially from this committee who presented themselves publicly to be vaccinated.

“I suggest the NPHCDA and PTF on Covid-19 should take advantage of the availability of such images of community influencers across the board to motivate the general population to accept the vaccine. Using Billboards and recorded messages and testimonies of experiences from these important individuals will go along way to address and counter negative messages on the disease and safety of the vaccine.” The Sultan said.

The Sultan added that in line with the committee’s mandate, the traditional leaders will not rest on their oars until effective mass mobilization and education of the people is ensured.

He added that the committee would continue to work assiduously to ensure resolutions agreed at the meeting are carried out to the later

The Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Faisal Shuaib, commended the committee members for the roles they played in eradicating polio from Nigeria.

He said that the National Traditional Leaders Committee meeting gives the agency the confidence that NPHCDA programmes are aligned with the people.

He also appreciated the effort of the committee in curving Covid-19 in Nigeria.

Dr. Shuaib said the demonstration of leadership exhibited by the traditional leaders by publicly receiving the vaccine has contributed to the success of the phase 1 of the COVID-19 vaccination roll-out.

“Your Highnesses, I deeply appreciate your efforts in curbing the spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria, especially at the Community level. During the vaccination roll-out, advocacy visits were made to some Emirs, sensitization meetings were also held to empower the traditional leaders with the right information about the vaccines. Your Highnesses, your demonstration of leadership by example by being vaccinated publicly has contributed in no small measure to our successful phase 1 COVID-19 vaccination roll-out which is formally closing today“. Dr. Faisal said.

The Executive Director also noted that town hall meetings were initiated to curb some cases of vaccine hesitancy across the states.

According to him, the meetings would improve community knowledge of the facts and benefits of COVID-19 vaccination and to enhance community ownership and participation in the COVID-19 vaccination campaign.

“The Town Hall Meetings are to be conducted at four levels – Zonal, State, LGA, and Ward levels. Already, the Zonal level Town Hall meetings have been conducted successfully in North Central Zone, (Nasarawa State) and North East Zone, (Adamawa State).The northwest Zonal meeting was earlier scheduled for 1st July but has to be postponed due to preparation for the coronation of Emir of Kano. We would therefore be counting on your usual support to States to ensure they cascade the Town Hall meetings to the subnational levels.” Dr. Shuaib noted.

He also requested for the continuous support of the northern leaders in mobilising the people for the vaccination campaigns and other subsequent rounds of the Polio vaccination in Nigeria.

“Your Highness, there have been reports of cases of vaccine hesitancy across the States and one of the community engagement strategies we have initiated to mitigate this challenge is the conduct of Town Hall Meetings to address concerns of the public and increase uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine. This is to improve community knowledge of the facts and benefits of COVID-19 vaccination and to enhance community ownership and participation in the COVID-19 vaccination campaign. I am optimistic that with your concerted support in promoting COVID-19 vaccination in and outside your domain, Nigeria will rapidly achieve herd immunity so we can all return to our normal way of life. We once again solicit your continued support for primary health care generally with special focus on RI and maternal and child health interventions”. He added

On his part, the UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Dr Peter Hawkins, commented the traditional leaders for their efforts in carrying people at the grassroots along in the implementation of government policies.

He said that in all the over four million persons vaccinated so far in Nigeria, no death has been reported.

“Nigeria has put in place a robust mechanism of monitoring any adverse effect against the vaccine. No death has been reported to date following the administration of the vaccine. There have been a total of fourteen thousand adverse effects of which most are minor”. Hawkins said.

He noted that UNICEF would continue to support the northern traditional leaders in carrying out their sensitisation programmmes.

The meeting has traditional leaders from across the northern states in attendance.