A Humanitarian Agency under the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, Caritas has designed a one year program to train community mobilizers on COVID-19 Vaccination Roll-out under the Center for Disaster and Philanthropy, CDP Project with sponsorship from Catholic Relief Services, CRS in Kaduna State.
The Technical Associate of the organization in Kaduna Central Senatorial District Mr. Shishi Benedic Terfa who disclosed this at the flagging off exercise in kaduna enjoined the public to intensify research on the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines and disregard mis-informations that surround it.
Mr. Benedic Terfa said, the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, CDP project is targeted at implementing thematic projects especially in the areas of health, agriculture and good governance among others.
The Technical Associate pointed out that the stakeholders training workshop became imperative following the need to refresh the knowledge of the participants on COVID-19 preventive measures, as well as need for massive vaccination with a view to stepping the knowledge down to their various communities and organizations.
He expressed worry over the myths that people had attached to the COVID-19 vaccines, and called on religious and traditional leaders among other stakeholders to intensify campaign on the need for Nigerians to get vaccinated and adhere to safety protocols .
Also speaking, the Director, National Orientation Agency, NOA in kaduna Alhaji Galadima Zubairu Soba represented by the Assistant Director at the Agency Mr. Danjuma Makama described the event as a welcome development, and called on other stakeholders and community mobilizers to synergize effort with NOA in sensitizing the public on the efficacy of the vaccine.
Zubairu said the agency has had series of Programmes on COVID-19 awareness and sensitization across the twenty three local Government areas of the state with a view to ensuring that people comply with the Corona Virus Guidelines as well as locate the designated areas for the Vaccination.
In a presentation on basic facts about COVID-19, the Zonal Technical Officer on Logistics, National Primary Health-care Development Agency, NPHCDA in kaduna Mr. Mato Nasir identified some designated places in the state where people could have access to the Vaccines as he decried low up-take in the state.
He said people could access the COVID-19 Vaccines in all the primary healthcare centres, phc in the state, including some designated areas such as the Emir Palace, motor parks and markets square.
Mr. Nasir said in kaduna state, there are also private facilities in addition to the Primary and Secondary Health-care Facilities that also administer the Vaccines located in Zaria, Sabon Gari, Kaduna North, and South, as well as Igabi local Government areas of the state.
The program is expected to run within the period of one year under the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, CDP project, sponsored by Catholic Relief Services, CRS in the metropolitan City of Kaduna state, capturing communities within Kaduna South and North Local Government Areas.
Key Agenda for the community mobilizers training under CDP Project include: basic facts about COVID-19, risk communication and demand generation for COVID-19 Vaccines, as well as approaches toward reducing hesitancy at community levels alongside community dialogue, town hall meetings and house to house visits amongst others.
Daniel Karlmax
