By Asmau Ahmad
The World Health Organization (WHO) has commended the Nigerian Government on its COVID-19 vaccination uptake across the country.
WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, gave the commendation on Tuesday in Abuja, at the Launch of optimized Service Delivery, Communication, Accountability, Logistics, Electronic reporting, and Supportive supervision (SCALES) strategy for COVID-19 Mass Vaccination in Nigeria, the Johnson & Johnson roll out and the vaccination site finder, organised by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).
The NPHCDA introduced the SCALES strategy to rapidly ramp up COVID-19 vaccine coverage by expanding access to COVID-19 vaccines outside the health facility.
Mass vaccination sites have been established at all public places such as markets, parks, shopping malls, schools, mosques, and churches.
Although the SCALES strategy has proven to be quite effective in ramping up COVID-19 vaccination coverage, the proportion of fully vaccinated Nigerians is still very low, partly because we have been using two-dose vaccines.
Moeti recognised that the country has done a great job, vaccinating over 200,000 Nigerians everyday.
“We hope that Nigeria achieves its target of vaccinating 600,000 eligible population everyday. If Nigeria can do it, then we know that Africa can do it,” she added.
she added that, like other countries have learnt lessons about how to leverage capacities on the COVID-19 vaccines delivery, so Nigeria had done.
Moeti also commended the government and donor partners for taking these on board in the SCALES 2.0 strategy in the country.
“I understand there’s going to be a great deal of emphasis on decentralization on really leveraging the decentralized nature of the Nigerian system and governments to engage those who are decision makers at the state level at the local government level, so that they can drive a very much accelerated action that is needed to speed up delivery of vaccines to the population.
“There is also going to be the need to expand significantly the delivery capacity, because at the same time as the country is carrying out this very important Job, there is other role in delivering other vaccines and other response to public health emergencies, will be going on, and I’m very happy to understand that this deliberate attempt will bring on board additional capacities, partners strongly with other actors, the civil society organizations, and the private sector in order to optimize every capacity.
“Very much engaging communities, ensuring that people understand trust in the process that is going on. We have seen in many countries in Africa, not only in Nigeria, people hesitating the vaccines, the world is engaging in a very new business,” she explained.
She noted that reporting information was a journalist’s top priority, but when providing context, perspectives, and potential solutions, they also have the chance to be constructive.
“By getting Nigerians on board, by giving hope, and having them realise they are part of the solution, the country will succeed in beating the pandemic together,” she advised.
Dr. Omotayo Bolu, Country Program Director Immunisation, US Centre for Disease Control (USCDC), stated that tnr launching of the SCALE 2:0 was an affirmation of the country’s readiness to ensure that all eligible Nigerians were reached with COVID-19 vaccines.
Bolu, acknowledged that there were many more work for Nigeria to do, as the country work hard toward its achievement of vaccinating 600 per day.
Meanwhile, the UNICEF Nigeria Representative, Dr. Peter Hawkins said that the data of vaccinated people presented shows that the country had done considerably well in its mass vaccination program.
According to Hawkins, we must realise that all people are aware of COVID-19 and need to protect themselves, their communities and the country. No one is safe until we all are safe.
