The Nigerian Red Cross Society has urged stakeholders in Nasarawa State to intensify mass vaccination campaign for COVID-19 and related diseases.
The Branch Communication Officer of the organisation in the state, Mr. Barnabas Asoloko, made the call at a stakeholders’ engagement on ‘Project Saving Lives, Livelihood and COVID-19 SCALE 3.0’ on Friday in Lafia.
Asoloko described the project “Saving Lives and Livelihood” as the initiative of MasterCard Foundation, in partnership with African Union and African Centre for Disease Control.
He said that the project was aimed at giving support to African countries to address COVID-19 vaccine and specifically support National Primary Health Care Development Agency on COVID-19 SCALE 3.0 in Nigeria.
According to him, the engagement, with the theme: “The COVID-19 Mass Vaccination Campaign in Nasarawa State: The Journey so far,” is targeted at reviewing the progress made by various stakeholders in the campaign.
Asoloko said the meeting would also enable the Red Cross get feedback from various trade unions, community-based organisations (CBOs), civil society organisations (CSOs), religious and community leaders access to the vaccine by their members.
“We called for stakeholders’ engagement because we needed to know the progress so far on COVID-19 in Nasarawa State, the overall development, where we are lagging behind and what we are supposed to do, and also to get feedback,” he said.
Asoloko further stated that another sensitisation programmes would hold on the campuses of nine higher institutions in the state.
He said there would also be road shows across the state, as part of risk communication and community engagement under the coordination of the Red Cross.
Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim, the Director of Health Education and Social Mobilisation, Nasarawa State Primary Health Care Development Agency, commended the Red Cross for the partnership, aimed at ensuring better life for the people of the state.
Also speaking, the State Coordinator, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Mrs. Nnena Eze, called for more access to adequate soaps for women to properly wash their hands, clothes, surfaces and floors.
“Women should also be sensitised on the need to immunise their children. Saving lives is everybody’s business. Not just mothers only, fathers, sons, daughters, neighbours, opinion leaders and others should also get involved,” she said.
The stakeholders from various trade unions, CBOs, CSOs, Nigeria Labour Congress, Nigerian Union of Journalists, International Federation of Women Lawyers and Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria attended the meeting.
