The public have been advised, to come out en – mass to receive corona virus vaccine, to curtail the spread of the deadly infection.
The project manager, public education on COVID-19 vaccine project, Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), Hamza Ibrahim made the call while presenting gifts to winners of COVID-19 vaccine champions, held in Kano.
According to him, the establishment of the public education on covid 19- vaccination, by CITAD in collaboration with Mac Arthur foundation has yielded positive results, as the public have been adequately sensitized on ways of mitigating the disease through vaccination, social distancing, personal hygiene among others.
He stressed that, since inception, the program focused 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.
Hamza Ibrahim pointed out that, research indicates that, fear of adverse effects of the vaccine, healthcare workers vaccine hesitancy, lack of risk communication strategy and Nigeria’s vaccine policy are some of the setbacks to covid 19 vaccine in the country.
On the emergence of the covid 19 champions, he maintained that, eighteen people were selected out of ninety six applications received, where they undergo rigorous training on how to counter fake news and misinformation.
The project manager explained that, three people from the six states of Kano, Kaduna, Bauchi, Kogi, Plateau and Borno embark on daily campaign, through social media platforms where three winners were selected by panel of judges every month.
He stressed that, the project which targets the entire northern region, organized by CITAD in collaboration with Mac Arthur foundation, conducted town hall meetings, advocacy visits and engagements with media and relevant stakeholders to achieve the desired objectives.
Radio Nigeria reports that, Sumayya Abdul from Kaduna state with 97 points, Mundi Iliyasu from Kogi with 75 points and Abdullahi Barau with 70 points emerged 1st , 2nd and third position respectively.
KHADIJAH ALIYU