By Chimezie Godfrey
The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) with support from MacArthur Foundation commenced implementation of public education on COVID-19 vaccine project.
In a statement the Coordinator,
Public Education on COVID19 Vaccine Project, Hamza Ibrahim, explained that the project is designed to create awareness on efficacy of COVID19 vaccine as well as to enlighten the public on misinformation, disinformation and false narratives being shared on the vaccine.
He added that the goal is to ensure uptake of the vaccine.
He said,”The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) with support from MacArthur Foundation implements “Public Education on COVID19 Vaccine Project”, the project aims to create awareness on efficacy of COVID19 vaccine as well as enlightens the public on misinformation, disinformation and false narratives being shared on the vaccine, the goal is to ensure uptake of the vaccine.”
Ibrahim stated that to understand challenges and hindrances associated with administration of the vaccine, CITAD held an engagement with Executive Secretaries of Primary Health Care Development Agencies from 19 northern states in Abuja.
According to him, during the meeting various hindrances and challenges related to the vaccination exercise were identified and debated on, recommendations to mitigating the challenges were offered in order to boost uptake of the vaccine.
“Notable among the challenges are stated as follows:
“Lack of political will, commitment and the needed support to Primary Health Care Development Agencies.
“Poor knowledge of vaccine storage, usage, expiration, etc.
“High deployment of vaccination personnel in urban areas at the expense of rural areas.
“Non supply of vaccines on time.
“Technical failure in capturing people’s data.
“Depositing vaccination funds at State Ministries of Health rather than Primary Health Care Development Agencies.
“Exclusion of marginalized groups in the vaccination chain.
“Inaccessibility of vaccination funds as a result of not centralizing the funding source,” he mentioned.
He added that other challenges that were equally identified include, conducting vaccination in security affected states and areas, transportation of the vaccines and vaccination personnel to hard-to-reach areas, delay and nonpayment of allowances of the vaccination personnel, among many others.
Ibrahim revealed that after extensive deliberations at the meeting, stakeholders recommended various measures to mitigate the challenges.
He revealed that among the measures recommended was the call by CITAD on state governors to demonstrate strong political will and commitment to addressing the myriad of challenges that bedevilling the mass vaccination efforts, among others.
“CITAD is therefore using this medium to make the following:
“Call on state governors to demonstrate strong political will and commitment to addressing the myriad of challenges that bedevilling the mass vaccination efforts
“Communication among healthcare agencies in the states should be coordinated and centralized.
“States should leverage social gatherings such as markets, ceremonies should be targeted for mass vaccination
“State governments should identify hard-to-reach areas and treat them with logistical peculiarities they possess
“Payments of allowances of vaccination personnel should be given priority and always be made on time, nonpayment of past allowances of the personnel should be settled immediately
“Senior officers such as Directors should be engaged in the vaccination exercise and be made to handle certain areas and be rotated at not more than two weeks interval.
“Marginalized groups should be specifically targeted in the vaccination exercise .
“The adhoc staff engaged in the vaccination exercise should be continuously trained on the vaccine.
“There should be a blueprint detailing reward and punishment for the vaccination personnel,” he stated.
CITAD also stated that healthcare workers should be provided with motivation packages to encourage them to be active and committed in the COVID19 vaccination exercise.
