COVID-19: CPI partners PHCDA, Health Ministry, WHO on vaccine uptake

The Challenge Parenthoood Initiative, (CPI), is partnering  with the Kogi State Primary Health Care Development Agency, (PHCDA), Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization, (WHO) toward raising awareness campaign on uptake of COVID-19 vaccine in Kogi State.

Our Kogi State Correspondent reports that the Executive Director of CPI, Eunice Abimbola Agbogun, while speaking during an advocacy visit to the Kogi State Primary Health Care Development Agency, (PHCDA), Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization, (WHO) said her organization is in partnership with the Center for Information and Technology (CITAD) has embarked on a project in enhancing Demand Creation and Uptake of COVID-19 Vaccine.

She noted that in the wake of the emergence of the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, Nigeria has begun to see a pandemic of two tracks - where the Delta variant is tearing through unvaccinated populations.

"Despite the support by the COVAX Facility led by WHO and UNICEF who have so far delivered 3.9 million doses to Nigeria, the country has continued to suffer from the gross inequity in global vaccine access" she said.

The CPI Executive Director noted that the objectives of the project is to enhance awareness on the efficacy of the COVID -19 vaccines and mobilize target communities to increase demand for uptake of the vaccines, build the capacity of Stakeholders on emerging issues in the fight against COVID 19 and promote uptake of COVID 19 Vaccines.

Continuing, Agbogun explained that," in the light of Kogi State dynamic effort at curtailing COVID-19 in the state, we seek to meet and discuss strategies to improve COVID-19 vaccination rate across the state.

" The current COVID-19 case surge across other part of the country has resulted to the need to encourage citizens of Kogi State to take up responsibilities of adhering to preventives measures aimed at avoiding the spread of COVID-19 from high burden state into Kogi State. 

"Therefore, there is need for both State and Non State actors to provide the needed interventions to promote the uptake of the vaccines in particular".

Agbogun, however appealed to the three organizations to provide the needed support for the campaign across the state, provide an enabling environment by linking and introducing CPI team to their  officers and agency responsible for COVID-19 vaccination in the state.

While appealing for continued collaboration towards achieving the set objective of the project, 

Agbogun requested for a baseline data to enable the team carry out it's work successfully.

In their various remarks, the Executive Director, Kogi State Primary Health Care Development Agency, (PHCDA), Dr Abubakar Yakubu who was represented by the Director Administration and Finance Mr Akor Monda said, it is the desire of the agency to collaborate with relevant agencies to promote good health in the state.

He said the agency has embarked on sensitization programmes across the three senatorial district of the state assuring that the agency will make available all the needed logistics, personnel and support to aid the success of the project.

In the same vein, the Director disease control and immunization  of PHCDA Mrs Odaudu Deborah described the advocacy visit as timely.

According to her,  there will be a mass venue where the vaccine will available for all Kogite to take stressing that, the upcoming project by CPI will serve as a refresher training for health officials on how to go about the vaccine. 

Odaudu explained that there is need to embark on preventive measures  on virus, adding that, in the local government, there is a designated health facility and a super site where they could have access to the vaccine.

On his part, the Director, Community Health Services and Social Development, Mr Musa Olusegun described the project as a welcome development adding that all the necessary cooperation will be given to the organization to enable them achieve their aim.

" Communication is key, and it will compliment our effort. Their are many misconception about covid-19. With this partnership, it will go a long way to address this issues".

At the Kogi State Ministry of Health, the CPI team was warmly received by the  Permanent Secretary, Mr Ayo Daniel Alonge. In his submission, Alonge lamented that  COVID-19 pandemic  has generated a of controversy in the world.

When the CPI team visited the World Health Organizations, (WHO), the state coordinator Kenedy Adejoh, reiterate the organization support towards combating COVID-19 pandemic in the world.

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