To this end, the Federal Ministry of Health organised a one-day sensitization meeting of stakeholders on the new security featured yellow card administration.

Delivering his speech at the occasion, the Minister of Health, Prof.C.O.Onyebuchi Chukwu who was represented by Dr.Roseline Ngige, Director, National AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases Control Programme (NASCAP) explained that apart from the vaccination, the International Health regulation of WHO requires certification through the yellow card provided for all travellers who were duly vaccinated.

He added that Nigeria also demands vaccination against this disease from travellers coming from other yellow fever endemic countries.

Going down memory lane, he said that in 1988, the National Council on Health (NCH) in their wisdom decentralised the production and administration of the card.

According to World Health Organisation (WHO), Nigeria is one of the thirty- one yellow fever endemic countries. The disease has the ability to cause serious public health impact and spread rapidly internationally. Vaccination is available and remains the most single important measure for preventing the disease.

Prof.Chukwu said that realising the embarrassment of Nigerians as a result of touting of the cards, the 55thNational Council on Health held in July 2012 passed a resolution on centralization of the production and issuance of the new security featured yellow card by the Federal Ministry of Health and Port Health Division in particular.

Also speaking, Dr.Sanni Gwarzo, the Director of Port Health Services said that the Federal Ministry of Health has printed 500,000 copies of yellow cards adding that the administration has commenced in all the Port Health Offices across the Federation.

He stressed that 300,000 out of the 500,000 cards have been issued out pointing out that the Ministry is in the process of acquiring more because of high demand from the public.