COVID-19: NGO expresses concern on response to vaccination in Kogi

A non-governmental organisation — Challenged Parenthood Initiative — has expressed concern about what it describes as poor response to COVID-19 vaccination by the residents of Kogi.

The Executive Director of the organisation, Mrs Eunice Abimbola, expressed the concern in Lokoja during the organisation’s end of the year news conference.

Stating the consequences of the development, Abimbola said that data from Kogi Primary Health Care Development Agency showed that people that were vaccinated since the inception of the COVID-19 vaccination programme in Kogi were 646,623.

“The people that were vaccinated when our project commenced in November 2021 was 125,833 and by the end of November 2022, the figure had increased to 646,623.

“Therefore, the need for the provision of mobility is imperative for mobilisation.

“Proper supervision and delivery of the vaccines safely to people living in remote areas to increase the vaccination rate in hard-to-reach communities are also important.

“We believe prompt remuneration of health workers involved in the COVID-19 vaccine campaign should be improved by government.

“This will encourage health workers’ and volunteers’ active participation in the exercise.

“The need to sustain sponsored public education radio programme airing in the indigenous language, which has boosted awareness and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines across the senatorial districts, cannot be over-emphasised.

“The state and local governments should act in this direction with stakeholders, encouraging adherence to health/hygiene guidelines from time to time,” she advised.

She also expressed worry about the dire consequences of people who had not taken COVID-19 jabs.

“The National Centre for Diseases Control (NCDC) recently urged Nigerians to get vaccinated, complete their vaccination dose and take other essential preventative actions to stay healthy.

“As of Dec. 19, the NCDC website reports that 266,381 infections and 3,155 deaths had been reported in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

“This is a clear signal that the virus is still very much around us,” she warned.

She pledged to continue to sensitise the public to the need to be vaccinated against the virus to allow citizens to enjoy healthy living and contribute to the growth and development of Kogi and the country.

Representatives of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Jama’atu Nasir Islam (JNI), Pst Owoyemi Samuel and Alhaji Isa Adeboye respectively, commended the efforts of the organisation.