Posted on: Wed 17-02-2021

THE Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) has urged the Federal Government to involve traditional and religious leaders in sensitising the public to accept the COVID-19 vaccine as the country awaits the arrival of the vaccines.

Its President, Prof. Innocent Ujah, who spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abuja, said the call followed hints of rejection of the COVID-19 vaccine by some Nigerians.

He stressed the need to involve stakeholders such as traditional rulers, religious leaders, politicians, opinion leaders and Civil Society Organisations

(CSOS) to engage their audience on the imperative of taking the COVID-19 vaccine.

Ujah noted that there would always be controversies to newly introduced issues, hence the need for sensitisation at all levels to accept the vaccine.

The president noted that in the early 2000, there were controversies surrounding polio vaccine, which was done to curb polio disease.

He explained that “it took the then administrators of Primary Health Care Development Agency and other agencies to involve traditional and religious leaders before people started taking the vaccine.

“You know there are all sorts of interpretation regarding the polio vaccine in that case. It became a challenge. So, we need to use the traditional institution to pass the message.

“I think it is important we look at that before it snowballs into a serious crisis and the purpose of getting the vaccine becomes defeated,” he said.

He maintained that the NMA supported the COVID19 vaccine, noting that it would provide succour to people.

He, therefore, stressed the need to first administer the vaccine, when available, to frontline health workers and those in isolation centres.

State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has denied reports in the social media that he ordered probe of the Chief Judge, Justice Olanrewaju Akeredolu.

The governor said the twist of the report, which erroneously painted him as ‘ordering’ any ‘probe’ as regards reported or alleged infractions with reference to prosecutorial misconduct or whatever alleged unpleasant circumstances, is repugnant.’

Akeredolu, who spoke through his Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Donald Ojogo, said the Office of the Attorney General ‘is constitutionally empowndo ered on all matters relating to public prosecution.

’According to him, the above notwithstanding, Mr. Governor has no reason to influence whatever step and or actions the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice deems necessary to take in respect of this particular subject matter.

This statement is issued to correct the wrong perception the slant of the story in circulation in a section of the social media may have created.

Source: Nation

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