Frontline health workers and critical leaders, who took the first jab of the COVID-19 vaccines, have started receiving the second doses in Cross River State, south-south Nigeria.
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The Cross River Commissioner for Health, Dr. Betta Edu flagged off the second round of the exercise at one of the Primary Healthcare Centres in Calabar, the capital city.
Dr. Edu, in a brief remark, said that Cross River performed well in the first round of COVID-19 vaccination and reminded the public of the need to constantly use the nose mask.
She noted that Nigeria and other countries in Africa and the world were not out of the woods due to new strains of the coronavirus with high mortality rate.
Edu said, “as we commence this second phase of vaccinations, I want to urge all of us to continue to protect ourselves. Coronavirus pandemic is still on. In fact, the emerging new strains are more deadly and infection rate is faster that the initial one.
“So, I am really pleading with everyone to abide by the hygiene protocols we preach daily. Use your nose mask everyday and properly; constant washing of hands is still very essential. Avoid crowded places and take practical steps to protect yourselves and family including your neighbours by maintaining social distance,” stated Edu.
The Commissioner stressed that vaccination remained the most effective means of reducing COVID-19 related deaths and urged all those, who got the first jab of the Astrazeneca vaccines to avail themselves for the second dose.
She stated, “the state government is committed to meet the estimated target population during the vaccination exercise. We are going to every community where our health workers are. You know Cross River has been on the forefront since the heat of this pandemic. All the preventive measures we adopted like the compulsory use of mask resulted in the state recording one of the least cases in the country.”
Total Coverage
Also speaking at the flag off ceremony, the Director General of the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Janet Ekpenyong appreciated the commitment of health workers, who made sure thousands of people got vaccinated during the first round.
Ekpenyong said, “due to your persistent effort, Cross River has covered over a 117 percent of its targeted population, making it the most performing state in the Nigeria as recognized by the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency.”
She attributed the success of the first round of vaccination to the massive mobilization of community, traditional and religious leaders, who have served as influencer to the targets.
The Director General called on all eligible individuals, especially those who have had the first dose, to return to any government health facility for the second jab in order to gain full immunity over the virus.
The representative of the World Health Organization for Cross River, Chisom Emeka, commended the state government for making the vaccines available.
Also speaking the UNICEF representative, Ephraim Chukwu stated, “I am glad the state maintained 100 percent safety guidelines for vaccine storage. All vaccines sent to the state have maintained a potent state. This shows that the Cross River is sincere in its preventive approach and as such I urge everyone in the state to come out and have their own jab of the COVID-19 Vaccine.”
The second round of COVID-19 vaccination is expected to last for 8 weeks.
UNHCR Donation
Meanwhile, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees has donated Personal Protective Equipments, PPEs, to the Cross River Ministry of Health to compliment the provision of quality healthcare services to the more than 40,000 Cameroonian refugees in the state.
Leader of the delegation, Tesfaye Bekele of the UNHCR sub regional office said that since 2016, the state government has remained generous to the refugees offering health and social services, which was considered a luxury in some other refugee communities.
He commended the Cross River government for vaccinating over 700 refugees, stating “we are sure that all other eligible refugees will receive theirs in due time.”
The medical supplies were received on behalf of the state government by the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Betta Edu, who appreciated the UNHCR for the support.
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