By Kenneth Onuoha
The Enugu State Government is currently training no fewer than 300 COVID-19 vaccinators ahead of the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccines to the state.
The trainees for the workshop, which is a two-day train-the-trainer arrangement, were drawn from the 17 Local Government Areas of the state.
Addressing the trainees in Enugu on Tuesday, Dr George Ugwu, Executive Secretary of Enugu State Primary Health Care Development Agency (ENS-PHCDA), said that the trainees would further step down the training in their various council areas and wards.
Ugwu said that the training was being carried out with the help of the state’s health partners – National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), UNICEF, WHO and others.
He said that the training was necessary for the vaccinators and health workers to carry everyone along in the council area and ward levels with the right information concerning the COVID-19 vaccines.
The Executive Secretary said the training would expose the trainees to the seriousness of the assignment of administering the COVID-19 vaccines.
He warned that they should never delegate their duty to anyone as the agency, the state health ministry and community members are watching and ”if any vaccinator is found wanting, such vaccinator will be sanctioned appropriately.’’
Stressing that they were trained to administer the COVID-19 vaccines and under strict observation of the COVID-19 safety protocols, he warned that ”the issue of COVID-19 pandemic, including its vaccination, is sensitive and sensational.”
”So, our health workers must follow all laid down procedures in the COVID-19 Vaccination Manuel provided by the Federal Government through the NPHCDA in collaboration with the UNICEF, WHO and other partners.
”They must pass the right message, act in the right way and ensure people around them while they administer the COVID-19 vaccines obey and abide with the COVID-19 safety protocol.
”The trainees and other health workers should strive to correct misinformation and negative myth against the COVID-19 vaccines in localities.
”The vaccines are cool, safe and secured for all; and NAFDAC, NPHCDA, UNICEF, WHO have endorsed it; while President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo have received it already,’’ he said.
Ugwu, however, lauded Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for supporting the ENS-PHCDA in steps to ensure that the state rolled back COVID-19 in record time and check the spread and death from the pandemic.
”I must commend our health friendly governor, His Excellency, Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who not only fund the Agency’s programmes but takes personal interest to know what is happening and what the state should do next.
”Gov. Ugwuanyi has taken time to ensure that step-by-step all that is needed to be done is being done at the appropriate time to make sure everyone in the state is safe and secured from the pandemic,’’ he said.