…As state receives 150, 000 doses
By:Felix Ikpotor
The Rivers State Ministry of Health has reportedly received one hundred and fifty thousand doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for distribution in the state.
Ministry sources said top government officials who received the vaccines on behalf of the state government were Professor Princewill Chike, commissioner for health, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health, Dr Ndidi Chikanele Utchay, Permanent Secretary Primary Health care Management Board Dr Agba Harry.
Others were Chief Medical Director (CMD) Rivers State University Teaching Hospital Dr Friday Aaron, Director Public Health and Disease Control Dr Golden Owhonda, the state Epidemiologist Dr Ifeoma Nwaditor.
Meanwhile, chairman of Ikwerre local government area of the state, Engr. Samuel Nwanosike has called on people the area to avail themselves for vaccination.
Nwanosike who confirmed that his council has received the vaccine also said he will make himself available to take the vaccine and urged people of the area to discard the negatives stories being peddled about the vaccine.
His words: “We are happy to announce to you that Ikwerre local government have received the COVID-19 vaccines and the professionals are here in the local government. This vaccination is for our good, it’s for us to go back to normal, it’s for us to live our normal lives again and it’s for us to thank God Almighty to say COVID-19 has been defeated”.
He added: “ Its for us to put hands together to fight this battle. All you need to do is to make yourself available to take this vaccine. This vaccine, I speaking to you, my wife and my children and all my family will take this vaccine. My workers, my friends and brothers and associates will also take this vaccine, military officers, police officers, DSS, Civil Defense and other security agencies will also take the vaccine. The health workers will also take the vaccine”.
While encouraging the people to take the vaccines, he said “I urge you people to disregard all the propaganda and the theories that people have been concocting, it doesn’t make sense”.
He explained that the vaccination will be in four faces which include frontline workers, elderly from 50 years and above, all those who will make themselves available. He stressed that after the flag-off, health workers shall be sent to all wards and communities to vaccinate the people.
He expressed believe that with the effort the government have done in combating the diseases, soon the country will be declared COVID free and we will go back to our normal lives.
