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Dayo Ojerinde
The Healthcare Federation of Nigeria has appealed to the Federal Government to consider harnessing the expertise and resources within the Nigerian private sector to ensure a successful rollout of COVID-19 vaccines.
The president of HFN, Dr. Pamela Ajayi, in a statement on Tuesday, urged the government to consider the benefits of private sector participation in the task of getting COVID-19 vaccine to the millions of Nigerians that need it.
She said, “Private sector involvement can help ensure smooth and effective procurement and rollout of the vaccines while reducing the cost to the government.
“HFN was instrumental in providing critical support during the first phase of the pandemic in mobilising the private sector response which led to the setup of isolation centers, increasing access to PCR testing and supporting state responses.
REUTERS/Lindsey Wasson/File Photo
Nigerians should look forward to the end of February for possible arrival of the COVID-19 vaccines, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has hinted.
It noted: “On the ill-fated pronouncement made by a member of the forum regarding the COVID-19 vaccines in a national daily, the forum totally and categorically dissociated itself from the statement.
“The forum will continue to be guided by science and ensure that every decision it takes retained public and professional trust.”
NGF, at a virtual meeting on Wednesday, said the country was working with the World Bank to get existing vaccines.
•Expect first shipment end of February
•Disown Yahaya Bello’s claim on pandemic
Chuks Okocha and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja
Nurses yesterday warned that inadequate medical personnel could jeopardise the efforts of the federal and state governments to administer COVID-19 vaccines on Nigerians.
They spoke just as the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) announced the composition of a committee to oversee the procurement and administration of the vaccines, whose first shipment is expected to arrive in the country by February ending.
National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwife (NANNM) President, Mr. Abdul Adeniji, told THISDAY that the country does not have adequately trained manpower to administer the vaccines on a large scale.
By Chuks Okocha
The Nigeria Governors Forum has set up a committee of experts to advise on the procurement of COVID-19 vaccine.
Also, the governors have dissociated themselves from the comments of the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello that the vaccine would kill people.
A communique of the governors meeting signed by the chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, (NGF) Dr. Kayode Fayemi said, “Following the presentations, the Forum set up a team of experts led by Professor Oyewale Tomori to advice state governors on the procurement and administration of coronavirus vaccines in the country.”
After the meeting, the communique said the chairman, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, briefed State governors on a meeting with Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Chair of the Board of Gavi, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, on the rollout of the COVAX facility which is a global risk-sharing mechanism co-led by Gavi, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the World Health Or
Governors pledge $700m to support water supply, sanitation, hygiene Governors pledge $700m to support water supply, sanitation, hygiene
• Distance NGF from Yayaha Bello’s position on COVID-19
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The 36 State Governors under the agies of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) unanimously resolved to increase budgetary allocation to the health sector with the collaboration of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning and the World Bank through the $700 million to support and incentivize infrastructure investments and strengthen government policies and institutions in the Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector.
The resolution was contained in the communiqué issued and signed by the NGF Chairman, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State at the end of the 24th Teleconference meeting, where the Forum distanced itself from a statement credited to Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, that COVID-19 was meant to kill Nigerians.