COVID-19: NSSF intensify support to PHCDA to attain 70 per cent vaccination by December

*50 percent of Nigerians taken first dose so far says PHCDA

The Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of the Nigeria Solidarity Support Fund, NSSF Dr. Fejiro Chinye-Nwoko yesterday said it is set to intensify stronger support to the PHCDA to ensure 70 percent vaccination against Covid-19 virus in the country before December 2022.

Dr. Fajiro made the pledge yesterday at Abuja while recieving brief on the evaluation of the vaccination on states the partner was already supporting.

In an exclusive interview with the Guardian Fajiro said “In September 2021, NPHCDA approached us that they needed our support to increase the vaccination coverage, as at that time, the coverage was just over four million Nigerians who have vaccinated for COVID.

” We supported NPHCDA by donating 300 million naira for the vaccination for six states and with that support, we were able to vaccinate over two million Nigerians.

According to her, the partnership has boost the vaccination figure from over four million Nigerians where it was to where it is today.

She noted that availability of the vaccine is not a challenge but the hesitancy is the major challenge, adding that, NSSF was also working with NPHCDA to increase mobilization and reduce vaccine hesitancy in other states.

According to her, in no time the 70 per cent coverage which is the country’s target will be attained before December 2022.

Responding, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) commended NSSF for the support while urging those who have not received their vaccination to do as the Covid-19 virus is still killing people.

The Executive Secretary of the agency, Dr Faisal Shuaib said that NSSF had entered into agreement with NPHCDA in Sept. 2021 to support COVID-19 vaccination campaign across the country, but kick-started the project with six states which are Edo, Ogun, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Katsina and Imo.

The goal was to vaccinate one million eligible Nigerians in the states

Shuaib, who was represented at the meeting by Dr Bassey Okposen, Director of Disease Control and immunization/Programme Manager, COVID-19 vaccination said the partnership with NSSF and others it will attain its target of the 70 per cent by December.

“COVID-19 is still very active, people are still dying globally, there are countries that are still having new outbreaks, it is good we take the vaccine and kick COVID out of our country.

” We are not only doing COVID-19 vaccination at the moment, we are doing integrated vaccination along with routine immunization, maternal services and other care at the primary healthcare level.

” As of today, we have 55.6 per cent who have taken only the first dose, and those who have fully vaccinated are 44.6 per cent.

” The current drive under the leadership of Faisal, Minister of Health and the support from the President and the entire presidential steering committee on COVID-19 had made us move to figure from 13 per cent.

“Our target is to ensure 70 per cent of the population get vaccinated before December 2022, we are working hard on this,’’ Shuaib stressed.

He cautioned against insiniuations by some people saying that COVID is no more in the country, adding that vaccine hesitancy had really slowed down the vaccination exercise.

Dr. Adis Mohammad, Executive Secretary, Nasarawa State PHCDA appreciated the NSSF, adding that the funds gotten from the independent partner really assisted the state in the vaccination exercise.

He said that the fund and with the support of the state government, the state healthcare agency was able to penetrate the people to access the vaccine.

According to him, “when the fund came along with the money they got from the state government and other partners like UNICEF, the state healthcare was able to mobilise the people easily.

“Our success story was also driven by the governor, Abdullahi Sule who gave us the enabling environment, no matter the strategy, if you don’t have the support of the government, the right environment will not be able to implement your plan.

He attributted the attainment of the Covid-19 vaccination of the state at 100 per cent success to Governor Sule’s commitment toward ensuring a safe and healthy state.