COVID-19 Vaccination: Health Care Board Alleges Sharp Practices By Health Workers

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Primary Health Care Board has commenced investigation into the allegation of sharp practices on COVID-19 vaccination being perpetrated by some health workers in the territory.

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This was stated by the Acting Secretary of the board, Dr. Iwot Ndaeyo on Wednesday at a sensitisation and social mobilisation meeting for the second phase of COVID-19 vaccination in the FCT in Abuja.

The meeting was organised for NGOs, Community and Faith-Based organisations, other stakeholders and reporters.

Ndaeyo said information had gotten to the board that some health workers were giving vaccination cards to FCT residents, in which they collected money for the purpose without vaccination.

He said the allegation might turn out to be a rumour, but that an agency had been saddled with the responsibility to identify the areas where this sharp practice was being carried out.

Ndaeyo vowed that the law would take its full course for any health workers and officers identified to be doing that, adding that the FCT primary healthcare has zero-tolerance for corruption.

He noted that there were still many people in the city, who were yet to take decision on the COVID-19 vaccination, stressing that taking the vaccination was for their benefit and the benefit of the country.

“What we are doing here is that we are granulating social mobilisation activities/risk communication for the second phase of the COVID-19 vaccination in the FCT.

“Government cannot do it alone, we have brought in partners that have been confirmed passionately involved in the progress of the health system in the FCT and we are to agree on the message we are to give out to people about COVID-19.

“It is painful at this stage of COVID-19 pandemic that some people are yet to decide on what to do, whether to take the vaccine or not, the vaccine hesitancy is getting too much, some don’t believe the virus exists.

“We need to do more on people with this mindset, beyond radio jingles, sharing of flyers, people also don’t come out on time even when they have agreed to take the vaccine.

“People must come out on time and do the needful by taking this vaccine,” he pleaded.

Speaking also, Dr. Ruquayyat Wamakko, Director, Primary Healthcare Unit of the board, noted that media advocacy, sensitisation and social mobilisation were crucial to make the people get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Mrs. Agnes-Joseph Shekwo, a member of the Breakthrough Action Nigeria, an NGO, informed the board that her organisation had been working in the area of mobilisation in all the six area councils of the FCT.

She said that her organisation had been working with Community Volunteers and Ward Development Committee (WDC) to work out social mobilisation issues at the grassroots, adding that her NGO would do more for the COVID-19 mobilisation.

MTO/NAN