FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu and some traditional rulers at the flag off
The Federal Capital Territory Administration is targeting to carry out mass vaccination of over 1.5 million residents in the next 50 days with COVID 19 vaccine across the six area councils
FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, performed the exercise at the Old Parade ground in Abuja.
She noted that the rapid spread of the virus emphasizes the need for an aggressive response and improved efforts to contain the infection and protect residents of the territory.
The minister assured residents that the Administration was taking up the challenge of improving on routine immunization, diseases surveillance, outbreak preparedness and response services as well as strengthening the primary Health Care scheme implementation in the FCT.
Dr Aliyu added that financing primary healthcare has improved steadily in the Federal Capital Territory Appropriation Act from 2019 to 2021, with over 30 percent increase on the previous year (2020) funding provision.
FCTA Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olusade Adesola, in his remarks reiterated that the Administration would continue to enforce the ‘no mask no entry’ restrictions at public places and regular hand washing campaign or the use of hand sanitizers, with not less than 70 percent alcohol base in all public places, including worship places.
Represented by the Director Operations, Planning and Strategy, Mr. Samuel Atang, the permanent Secretary called on all staff and residents of the territory to take this campaign very serious by making themselves available, including their family members, friends to take the COVID-19 vaccination.
“The vaccine has been certified by WHO to be safe. I therefore urge residents to disregard all negative perceptions about the vaccine”, he stressed.
The Executive Director National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuab, thanked President Muhammadu Buhari, for his unrelenting commitment to the course of COVID-19 vaccination in Nigeria, which has been ranked by the World Health Organisation as the best in Africa and 4th best in the world.
Reporting by Remi Johnson, editing by Daniel Adejo.