Citizens and residents in Enugu state, the south east of Nigeria, have responded fairly well to COVID-19 vaccination.
The programme has been well accepted as lot of people now go on their own to be vaccinated. Since they rolled out in March 2021, the state has vaccinated over 420,000 residents.
Dr. George Ugwu, the Executive Secretary, Enugu State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (PHCDA), in an exclusive interview told a correspondent of voice of Nigeria in Enugu that, over 300,000 people have taken the first dose, while a combination of the first and second dose is over 420,000 Enugu residents that has taken it.
“It is a work in progress and a reasonable number has also taken the booster doses. So we have provisions for first, second and the booster doses. This depends on what a particular individual is due for.
“One of the things driving the response is the fact that, the vaccine obviously hasn’t gotten any serious side effects. People who have taken it are healthy, living their normal lives and being protected.
“There was a time doubts and social media were really setting us backwards. We have gotten the challenge on those who still have doubts. People still ask if COVID-19 is real. While others say COVID-19 is no longer there.
“But our solution to that is health education. We have been trying to educate and talk to our people, trying to make sure that there’s adequate but correct information sharing coming from the appropriate health authorities.
“We have an active health education unit, through which we have been doing mass mobilisation. We’re also using our age long polio structure, where we have people in the local government and at ward levels. We call them to meetings and tell them the right information to share.
“As we speak, COVID-19 vaccination is going on in all the 17 local government areas of the state.
“Last week, we were at one of our tertiary institutions where we vaccinated over 300 students. We were also in the Enugu State College of Education and we’re continuing. Some of our tertiary institutions here are on strike and temporarily closed.
“Despite that, we’re reaching out to young people in various communities. We’re also in the markets,” Dr. Ugwu said.
It is now a well accepted vaccination and the primary health care development agency seem not to be relenting.
“For those still doubting, we’re telling them that they’re doubting what is healthy and protective.
“Vaccination shouldn’t be for only those traveling. People should be vaccinated for the love of their families, loved ones and themselves and the community where they live in.
“What is there is that we have different types and it comes in batches. At some point, if any of the vaccines is about to finish, we make a reposition to Abuja to bring us additional vaccines. And they always give us.”Ugwu stated.
“The issue of the availability of the vaccines is becoming a thing of the past as Enugu State has received a substantial quantity of Johnson and Johnson which is the one off dose.
“So, if we give Johnson and Johnson, it will just take care of you once and for all. We have distributed Johnson and Johnson to all local government areas.
“The issue of those who have taken the first dose and they are saying the second dose is yet to come, we have requested for about 5000 units of appropriate vaccines from our neighbouring states. I can tell you that going by the outcome of our recent national meeting, the country has got enough vaccines to take care of Nigerians.”
The primary health care development agency are also on top gear to finding ways to reach those communities that are not easily accessible, as they deploy mobile teams working in those areas to help them get vaccinated.
“The religious organizations and their leaders have been so helpful. The good thing we did was that we vaccinated their leaders early enough. So, most of their leaders are the ones encouraging them to come and get vaccinated.
“We still have a few clergy in the hinterlands that are still asking questions. But we keep using leaders such as religious leaders, educational institutions managers, traditional rulers, professors of medicines and health sciences, to give examples because they were vaccinated publicly. For instance, when we rolled out, our governor, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, was there in person and was vaccinated publicly. It was the same thing with the speaker of the state house of assembly and members of the house, as well as all cabinet members of the Enugu State executive council.
“Governor Ugwuanyi went ahead to call on our people to go and get vaccinated. It’s no longer whether the vaccine is safe. It’s a matter of you take it and inform your people, family and villagers to take it too.”
On vaccines related fraud, the Executive Secretary said, “There was a time we heard something like that. But you know we work with the security agencies right from the time we rolled out. So we dropped that hint with the security agencies and they investigated it and found nothing of such.
“We are on the lookout for such practices. Already, we have a structure and we have a team of ICPC, DSS and the police who are always on the lookout for this kind of thing. So far, no such thing has been identified. Even our health workers are under check.”
Dr. Ugwu also explained processes the agency adopted to check on those who would want to get the card without being vaccinated.
“You have to be vaccinated first before we key you into the digital registration process. That’s why it is not just the normal process of writing letter. There is someone who stays around every centre to validate what has been done.
“The process has made members of the international community to give kudos to Nigeria for the clean process we have adopted. So no country in the world queries Nigerian COVID-19 vaccination certificate.
“Our request is that our people should make themselves available for the vaccination. We are ready to reach every part of Enugu State. The only thing we have not considered is vaccinating anybody by force.
“Help us spread the news to our people to come and get vaccinated for the love of themselves, their families and their communities because prevention is better than cure,” Dr. Ugwu appealed.
