Lack of adequate information and enlightenment has been identified as some of the major hindrances to COVID-19 vaccination exercise.
The project manager,public education on COVID-19 vaccine project,center for information technology and development (CITAD), Hamza Ibrahim made the disclosure while briefing newsmen in Kano.
According to him,CITAD with support from Macarthur foundation will implement a public education on COVID-19 vaccine, across 6 northern states.
Hamza Ibrahim explained that, the program will focus attention on creating awareness around COVID-19 vaccine with a view to getting acceptance and uptake of the vaccine by the general public in Bauchi, Borno, Kaduna, kogi, Kano and Plateau states.
He said CITAD, had discovered major setbacks on the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination exercise during monitoring of the vaccine chain, as well as two high level engagements with critical stakeholders within the health sector.
The project manager noted that, lack of adequate information and enlightenment on the vaccine subject people to believing lies, misinformation and disinformation on the vaccine particularly within groups with low literacy and exposure level, or people with no access to any media or information outlet.
He pointed out that fear of adverse effects of the vaccine, healthcare workers vaccine hesitancy,lack of risk communication strategy and Nigeria’s vaccine policy have played a vital role in reducing the number of people willing to take the vaccine.
Hamza Ibrahim charged state governments to work with primary healthcare development agencies, public health workers and the media to develop a context based communication strategy in local languages as well as ensuring that health care workers are immunized.
“We advise state government’s to treat with seriousness the issue of paying the vaccination officials and the entire health care workers and provide them with the necessary support”
Also speaking,the community networks coordinator CITAD, Malam Haruna Adamu Hadejia, said global politics,palliative issues and media renumeration as issues that require urgent attention in the fight against COVID-19.
Radio Nigeria reports that, CITAD charged government and all relevant stakeholders to treat the challenges identified with seriousness to achieve the desired objectives.
KHADIJAH ALIYU
