CITAD Engage Heads of Health Agencies to Discuss Better Strategies to Improve COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake

In line with its efforts to ensure that the eligible population are vaccinated against the COVID-19, Centre for Information Technology And Development (CITAD) with support from MacArthur Foundation on Wednesday 13th April, 2022 at Treasures Suites and Conferences Abuja has met with the Nineteen (19) State Executive Secretaries of the Primary Health Care Development Boards to explore ways in which the vaccine uptake can be improved.

Speaking virtually, the Executive Director of CITAD, Dr. Yunusa Ya’u hinted that the strategy meeting was aimed to promote speedy and increased uptake of vaccines among Nigerians.
According to him, the meeting brought together State and non-state actors as well as implementing partners to discuss better ways to achieve greater COVID-19 Vaccine uptake.
He urged them to make effective use of their scientific knowledge to counter fake news, rumours and misinformation which has been a threat towards achieving increased vaccine uptake in the Country especially their respective States.
He further charged them to give attention to educating the public on the safety and efficacy of all COVID-19 Vaccines.
“The meeting is to discuss and recognize the successes recorded and highlight challenges in order to collectively proffer solutions” he said.
He expressed disappointment on how Health Practitioners who are expected to be knowledgeable are discouraging the public from taking the vaccines instead of building confidence in the people about the drugs.
He said the meeting will birth sound recommendations that will translate to better results.

In his keynote address, Dr. Isah Sadeeq of the Centre for Infectious Diseases Research Bayero University Kano said the deployment of the COVID-19 Vaccines is to interrupt the transmission of the virus.
He said the target is to reach 120 million eligible persons of the total population of the Country at the end of the phase 4 of the transmission plan.
According to him, the need to protect the people through vaccination to stop the emergence of new variants.
He lauded the improvement in the daily utilization of vaccines harping on the need to ensure that vaccines received by the Country are equitably distributed and efficiently used.
He commended Nasarawa and Jigawa State for the exploits they are making that has significantly increased their vaccine uptake.

Deputy Director of MacArthur Foundation Africa, Dayo Olaide lauded the engagement and said the adverse impact of COVID-19 drew the attention of the Foundation to swiftly intervene.
He applauded CITAD for partnering with State and non-state Actors in the COVID-19 Vaccine Public Education and hinted that the intervention is making the needed impact.

Some partners shared their experience on the project stating the successes made so far and the challenges being confronted.

Taking the Participation on the topic “Exploring Hindrances to COVID-19 Vaccine Administration”, Dr. Aminu Hassan the Executive Secretary Taraba State Primary Health Care Development Board said the swift development of the COVID-19 Vaccines is commendable.
He said the pandemic has affected social and economic wellbeing of the Nation and World at large hence the need to take deliberate steps to ensure the people are vaccinated.
He said it is important to target Health Workers, traditional rulers and opinion leaders to serve as buffers towards improving vaccine uptake by the public.

He said shortage of skilled health Workers, lack of adequate storage facilities and transportation to hard to reach areas are challenges that must be addressed.
According to him, health workers are overwhelmed with the responsibilities of administering the COVID-19 Vaccines and also attend to other health needs of the public.

Executive Secretaries present gave updates of the respective States.

The Executive Secretary of the Plateau State Primary Health Care Development Board, Dr. Livinus Miapkwap chaired the session on ” developing a workable blueprint” after which recommendations on how best to improve the COVID-19 vaccine uptake were made.