By Haruna Gimba
Nigeria has commenced its COVID-19 vaccination on Friday, with a medical doctor, Dr Cyprian Ngong of the National Hospital, Abuja receiving a jab of the AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccine.
The exercise was flagged off by the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, on behalf of the President Muhammadu Buhari.
Speaking during the exercise, Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Faisal Shuaib, described the moment as a “watershed,” while the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said it was crucial “to first cater for those who cater for us.”
Speaking after his vaccination, Dr Ngong, who has been treating COVID-19 patients at the National Hospital Isolation Centre in Abuja since the beginning of the fight last year, said he wished his father took the vaccine as he died of the lethal virus.
“We have been at the forefront here in National Hospital at the Isolation Centre under the leadership of the National Hospital. They have provided everything we need for this fight. We’ve lost some, we’ve got some and we are happy we are getting the vaccines now in Nigeria.
“That is about the best news we have heard since. I only wished my dad had had this vaccine may be months ago or so. We lost him but we thank God and the fight is still on and we will win,” he said.
Health Reporters reports Nigeria had on Tuesday received about four million doses of AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccine shipped into the country through the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport.
