*APGA DELEGATES OF SOLUTION POISED TO REWARD SOLUDO’S LOYALTY*

22/04/21

Joe C. Anatune

*APGA DELEGATES OF SOLUTION ARE POISED TO REWARD SOLUDO’S LOYALTY*

The convenient banking services we all enjoy today couldn’t have been possible if not for the uncommon loyalty of Cee Cee Soludo to his country and people. The fact that we print our currencies locally wouldn’t have been possible if not for his care, love and allegiance to his people and country.

As a corollary, Anambra State APGA faithfuls are poised to pick Cee Cee Soludo as their flag bearer for governorship election in Anambra on November 6, 2021 because of his fidelity to the party and the state. Loyalty, care and allegiance are not things we just talk about. They are things we demonstrate through tough and rough personal actions in opportunities which God gifts us to make our society better.

Of course, considering our operating environment, a less loyal person in Soludo’s shoes would have torpedoed the blissful banking services we enjoy for lucre. Yes for lucre, because operators who were benefitting from the system did everything possible to stop the change. Soludo stayed the course for us. And here we are today.

Likewise, APGA is like a second skin to Soludo and there is no doubt he will strive to improve its electoral victories as well as the welfare and well being of its members. When he said he will form a cooperative society for members, he means just that.

This character trait has trailed his private and public life trajectory: loyalty to family, community, country, the world and to causes he believes in, plus audacious searches for Solutions that ultimately enthrone happiness to the greater majority.

Since joining APGA, Soludo has consistently worked for the best interests of the party and Anambra State. The record of electoral victories in his local government and ward has spiralled since his entry. He is not just a member of the Board of Trustees (BOT), he has been entrusted with the headship of a committee that is currently defining the pathways of Anambra’s future particularly with regard to its safety, prosperity and happiness in the next 50 years. His commitment to these undertakings is unparalleled, which hugely demonstrate his loyalty and allegiance to making the state better than it is today.

Over time, Ndi Anambra and APGA faithfuls have noticed these sterling qualities and are clamouring for his leadership after the tenure of Governor Willie Obiano. He has become a political hurricane of sorts, blowing across the nooks and corners of the state.

Now, with the Party’s guidelines and timetable out for the primaries, there is no doubt that Soludo will be rewarded for his loyalty by coming out victorious in the primaries that is primed to be hotly contested, free, fair and credible. He is the face for the victory of the party in the November 6, 2021 governorship election on the solid foundation which Obiano has built. He is the choice of the party and the choice of the people of Anambra for the berth of the most livable, prosperous, safest and happiest Smart Megacity in Africa that will be developed holistically.

Truly, Solution brings happiness and delegates of Solution are poised to make it happen.

*Joe C. Anatune*

Lagos Concludes First Dose Vaccination Exercise,  Over 257,000 Persons Inoculated Second Dose Exercise Commences in May

21/04/21

DANIELS G.O


Lagos State has concluded the first half vaccination campaign – in line with the directive of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA). The exercise began on March 12.

The conclusion of the first phase, which took an average of 20 days, followed the Federal Government’s directive to stop vaccination once half of the consignment has been administered so that those who received the first dose will have an opportunity for the second dose. This will ensure that at least 1% of Lagos residents receive the full complement of doses required to enable the protection the vaccine promises. The target to achieve effective herd immunity is vaccination of at least 60% of the Lagos State population. The exercise lapsed on Tuesday 13th April 2021. Consequently, the Government has shut down all its vaccination centers.

Recall that Lagos State got 507,000 doses of the 3.92 Million doses of the AstraZeneca COVID vaccine facilitated through support from the COVAX facility to the Federal Government of Nigeria. The Lagos State vaccination drive is managed by the Technical Working Group on the Vaccination Strategy as approved by the Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Incident Commander. It is chaired by the Honorable Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi.

Lagos State inoculated 257,756 persons, as of the 15th of April 2021, consisting of health workers, frontline workers including; security agents, ports of entry staff, Judiciary, petrol station workers, contingency workers and strategic leaders. The Government went a step further to vaccinate willing pensioners, people aged 70 and above, teachers and journalists during the same period. Lagos is the only State that has inoculated more than 200,000 residents during this period.

The remaining doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID vaccine have been reserved at the Lagos State Cold Chain Store for the second dose exercise, which will commence on the 28th of May, 2021, following the expiration of the 8-12 weeks interval as required by the manufacturers. Residents are encouraged to check their vaccination cards for their next appointment dates and where possible to try to go to the same health facilities where they got their initial dose for their second dose. There is no need for citizens who have received the first dose to pre-register before going to the health facility for the second dose because their already captured details will only be updated with additional information after vaccination. The vaccines are due to expire on 9th July 2021. Our monitoring and evaluation quality assurance activity indicates that our cold chain distribution logistics has been maintained ensuring the integrity of the vaccines.

As previously stipulated and according to the strategy of the Federal Government through the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, the COVID-19 vaccinations will be in four phases. Phase two will cover persons aged 50 years and above as well as those living with co-morbidities who are between 18-49 years of age. Phase three will be activated thereafter for people in the Local Government Areas with the highest infections of the disease and those who missed phases one and two. Phase four will cover other eligible populations as more vaccines become available. The date of commencement of the Phase Two vaccination will be announced by the Federal Government in due course.

Of the 257,756 persons inoculated as of the 15th of April 2021, 59,444 (23.1%) are health workers, 109,809 (42.6%) are essential workers and 88,503 (34.3%) are strategic leaders. Our gender distribution data indicated that we have vaccinated more females than males; with 131,283 females representing 50.9% and 126,473 males representing 49.1% vaccinated as of April 15th, 2021.

According to our evaluation report, Eti-Osa, Lagos Mainland, Ikeja, Kosofe, Alimosho and Surulere are the top six Local Government Areas with the highest number of persons vaccinated. 28,257 and 25,094 persons were vaccinated in Eti-Osa and Lagos Mainland. In Ikeja LGA, we vaccinated 23,194 persons; in Kosofe LGA, 19,398 people received the COVID vaccine. For Alimosho and Surulere, 18,954 and 14,963 persons were vaccinated. Apapa, Amuwo-Odofin, Badagry, Epe, and Ibeju-Lekki local governments have the least number of citizens vaccinated, with less than 8,000 persons vaccinated for each.

So far, following the administration of the first dose of the vaccine to 257,756 persons, just a few of the persons vaccinated experienced what is termed adverse events following immunisation (AEFI) or adverse event of special interest (AESI) characterised by pain at the injection site, fever or body pains lasting 24 to 48 hours and anaphylactic shock. We are being extremely diligent for blood coagulation disorders in view of the prevailing international scientific attention to the possibility of increased risk of developing blood clotting disorders and two cases are being investigated. It is important in the interest of scientific knowledge to be able to attribute any blood clotting problems directly to the administration of the vaccine. The Lagos State Government has robust surveillance systems to effectively monitor and track untoward events and I would like to urge anyone who experiences any adverse events to call the number of the LGA Disease Surveillance Notification written in front of the vaccination card so that such cases can be thoroughly investigated and monitored.

We have learnt several lessons during this vaccination drive, and the challenges encountered will be addressed before the commencement of the administration of the second doses vaccination drive. These includes:

1. The need to perfect the digital platform that would ensure scheduling of clients to prevent overcrowding at the facilities, which leads to opportunists taking advantage of chaos that may ensue.

2. Continuous active risk communication to manage the expectation of the residents, educate them as to the need to properly monitor adverse events and report them through the official channels.

We sincerely apologize to citizens that may have experienced any inconveniences during the first doses administration exercises and we pledge to try to manage the mammoth logistics more effectively moving forward.

It is important to reiterate that residents, including vaccinated persons, must continue to adhere to the measures proposed to curb the spread of the virus, i.e. wearing of face masks in public, social distancing, avoidance of crowded areas, frequent washing of hands and practice of good respiratory hygiene.

Lagos State is fully aware of the evolution and global circulation of COVID-19 virus mutant and variant strains that appear to be acquiring the ability to cause multiple waves characterized by more serious clinical outcomes in countries like India, Brazil and certain parts of Europe. Lagos State the consistent epicenter of Nigeria has come out of the second wave successfully, the government is not relaxing on its oars and is preparing assiduously for all eventualities. Mr. Governor is committed to achieve herd immunity for its population through the vaccination exercise and Lagos State will work with the NPHCDA and other potential stakeholders to ensure a successful COVID vaccination campaign that would ensure Lagos State is able to withstand or mitigate a 3rd wave.

In line with the Federal Government’s strategy of curbing the spread of the global pandemic and securing public health, Lagos State Government through its Technical Working Group on the Vaccination Strategy and the Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board carried out the vaccination of its residents under the supervision and strict protocols of the NPHCDA.

My profound appreciation goes to Mr. Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his leadership role in this successful exercise. I would also like to extend the State government appreciation to our development partners for their support and technical assistance, and the Gentlemen of the Press for their roles in the exercise.

Thank you.

Signed

Prof. Akin Abayomi

Honourable Commissioner for Health

Lagos State

21st April 2021

CHECK OUT THE SOLUDO SOLUTION

19/04/21

Written By Joe C. Anatune*

Publisher:DANIELS G.O

*ANAMBRA 2021: OBIANO IS THE ANVIL AND SOLUDO IS THE ACE, FOR THE VICTORY OF APGA THAT ENSURES OUR HAPPINESS*

His Excellency, Governor Willie Obiano, has proven that a good anvil does not fear the hammer, to the admiration of his fans and chagrin of his foes. He is the anvil for the next triumph of APGA. Cee Cee Soludo is the ace. Believe me.

We have been pounding the landscape of Anambra State, spreading the good news from Soludo. Obviously, all indicators point to a well deserved and sweet APGA victory in the November 6, 2021 governorship election on the above permutation.

The party will be going into the election with a very remarkable and impressive track record of performance in the past 16 years, since it wrestled power from the buccaneers, who viciously held the state to the ground and who are today, prancing around to take the people back to Egypt. The people have moved on. Bad luck!

Even without the alluring legacy projects of Governor Willie Obiano, the stability the governor has brought to bear in the socio-economic life of the people of the State, through his yet unsurpassed security arrangements is both profound and fundamental.

The State’s economy has been boosted by inflow of funds, resulting from the rapidly increasing number of Ndi Anambra who return home every day, due to the peace and safety the state has been enjoying in the past 7 years.

Everywhere you go, you can’t but notice the growing and booming night markets or if you prefer, the night economy. These among other factors account for the rising prosperity you see in the state, notwithstanding that the country has experienced two recessions within the time frame.

Now, imagine Anambra in full glories, after the unraveling of the legacy projects of Governor Willie Obiano? Ndi Anambra are conscious of this and this supports our earlier assertion that they will gladly line up behind APGA, to continue with the good works. But alas, Obiano’s tenure is grinding to a glorious end. So where do we go from here? Who will go for APGA and for Anambra?

The good and cheering news is that Ndi Anambra in APGA and across demographics and party divides have found the answer in a man who knows how to firm things up and how to consolidate or build on existing structures to upscale the happiness of the generality of the people. Happiness, indeed, is the ultimate manifestation of development. When Cee Cee Soludo changed the banking industry for good, he brought happiness to the operators, employees, customers and other stakeholders of that industry. His numerous social investment programmes in education, health and human empowerment have continued to imbue hope and happiness in all the beneficiaries. After all, making Anambra the happiest Smart Megacity in Africa is a part of his vision.

As a corollary to the foregoing, Soludo is best suited in the prevailing circumstances to lead Anambra after Obiano to meet the expectations of his party and the generality of Ndi Anambra. Luckily, he is not just the man of the people, he is the people’s Choice that will bring happiness to them. He is the ace, while Obiano is the anvil.

*Joe C. Anatune*

LAGOS TASKS HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ON SAFE BLOOD TRANSFUSION PRACTICES

18/04/21

DANIELS G.O

SAFE BLOOD TRANSFUSION

Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi has tasked all health workers and stakeholders in the blood transfusion chain on the need to strictly adhere to safe blood transfusion practices and ensure patient safety in blood transfusion procedures.
Abayomi gave this charge at the weekend during a virtual workshop on Safe Blood Transfusion Practices organized by the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service (LSBTS) for health care professionals in private and public health facilities.
The Commissioner who was represented by the Executive Secretary, LSBTS, Dr. Bodunrin Oshikomaiya noted that a wide range of errors which may occur at various stages and process of transfusion must be guarded against in view of the need for patient safety and wellbeing in transfusion services.
“Blood safety and patient safety in transfusion service is a topic that cannot be overemphasized; this is why the Lagos State Governnent through LSBTS is working with the World Health Organisation to improve access to safe blood for transfusions and promote blood safety.
“This is why we initiated this training as a capacity building mechanism for all cadres of health professionals involved in blood transfusion chain to recognize and prevent errors in blood transfusion process and ensure that only safe blood are made available for transfusion in our health facilities”, Abayomi said.
He explained that safe blood transfusion practices involves all activities in blood donation chain from blood collection from low-risk, regular, voluntary unpaid donors as well as testing, processing, storage, distribution of blood to actual transfusion.
He noted that LSBTS is focusing on four key areas to achieve safe blood transfusion services. This according to him include; centrally coordinated blood transfusion service, collection of blood exclusively from voluntary donors, testing of all blood for compatibility and transfusion-transmissible infections, and reduction of unnecessary transfusions.
Abayomi added that LSBTS will continue to train health workers involved in blood transfusion chain on safe and good clinical transfusion practices stressing that the agency has over the years, trained health workers on documentation, quality assessment and rational use of blood and blood products to reduce unnecessary transfusions and minimize the risks associated with transfusion.
“LSBTS, governed by the national blood policy and the Lagos State legislation, promotes uniform implementation of standards and consistency in the quality and safety of blood and blood products”, Abayomi stated.
Speaking in the same vein, a Consultant Haematologist and Blood Transfusion Specialist, Dr. C.O Muyiwa urged health workers to properly utilize blood component and also avoid unnecessary and inappropriate blood transfusion.
She averred that transfusion services must always be in tune with standard operating procedures and protocols in order to ensure safety in the blood transfusion chain.
Participants at the virtual training included core Medical workers in private and public health facilities, medical laboratory scientists, phlebotomist, operators of private blood banks, donor drive organizers and regulatory agencies.
Signed
Tunbosun Ogunbanwo
Director Public Affairs
18th April, 2021

LAGOS ENVISIONS MEDICAL INFRASTRUCTURE OVERHAUL AT LASUTH  

08/04/2021

DANIELS G.O

PRESS RELEASE

In fulfilment of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration’s medical infrastructure blueprint agenda for Lagos, the State Government has revealed plans to convert the environment of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) into a fit for purpose medical infrastructure which will help the tertiary institution seamlessly carry out its core functions of training, academic research and providing highest level of medical intervention for complicated medical cases.

Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi who disclosed this today after an inspection tour of facilities at LASUTH and the Lagos State College of Medicine (LASUCOM) noted that the overall goal is to position the tertiary academic institution as one of the best tertiary academic centers in Nigeria and the world.

He explained that discussion are ongoing between the Ministry and the management of LASUTH on how to transform the entire LASUTH/LASUCOM empire into a modern day tertiary academic facility adding that the consideration is to carry out the overhaul in blitz or segments with a master site plan in multiple phases.

Said he: “The problems here are historical, infrastructural and operational. Historically, this is a colonial facility that was transformed from a General Hospital into a Teaching hospital. It was initially not designed for that purpose; it was acquired and the organization here are doing the best they can to run it as a tertiary academic centre.

“LASUTH is positioned to be the apex of medical expertise but the tertiary academic facility is handicapped by the hierarchy of medical facilities underneath it; that is the secondary and primary health facilities. So LASUTH ends up seeing what it shouldn’t be seeing or such badly complicated cases from lack of good management from primary and secondary levels.

“The master plan for the future is to convert the infrastructure environment of LASUTH into a fit for purpose facility for it tertiary academic functions which is to train medical personnel, conduct research on relevant issues in the environment and receive the most complicated of medical cases”

While noting that the highest level of medical expertise should reside at LASUTH, Abayomi stated that LASUTH is the penultimate establishment for training of core medical personnel adding that the State is working on improving LASUTH’s ability to train a multitude of cadres of health professionals starting with overhauling the facility infrastructure.

He added that the State Government is working assiduously to convert the LASUTH environment into an environment that is conducive for the trainees and qualified medical personnel to remain stressing that the issue of a conducive environment is fundamental and germane to preventing brain drain.

The Commissioner noted that the government is also fixing secondary and primary health systems so that citizens do not bypass primary and secondary levels to overwhelm LASUTH with cases that can be handled at bottom levels of health care.

“Profit is not the core mission of LASUTH. The mission is to treat you according to international benchmark processes. LASUTH is known for that and must continue to be known for that and raise a standard and move up the pegs along the rankings of teaching hospitals. LASUTH will continue to improve its rankings amongst the tertiary academic hospitals in the world”, Abayomi said.

Signed

Tunbosun Ogunbanwo

Director, Public Affairs

April 8, 2021

LAGOS DEVELOPS STRATEGIES ON ONE HEALTH PARADIGM TO PREVENT BIOSECURITY THREATS

16/04/21

DANIELS G.O

PRESS RELEASE

Lagos State Government said it is developing strategies to sanitize the environment from biosecurity threats through employing the one health paradigm to achieve the Health and Environment mandate of the present administration’s THEMES agenda.

Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi who disclosed this today at a training workshop on One Health Paradigm organised for stakeholders drawn from relevant Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) stated that the plan is to create a synergy amongst relevant MDA’s particularly Health, the Environment and Agriculture to protect man and the environment from biosecurity threats.

In his presentation titled “Loss of Biodiversity: A Biosecurity Concern”, the Commissioner averred that the interconnectivity between man, animals and their shared environment calls for serious concern and response from government and relevant stakeholders in order to address emerging health and environmental issues in other to prevent and effectively manage emerging infectious diseases which is out to ravage mankind.

He explained that the present administration deliberately put Health and Environment together in the second pillar of the THEMES agenda in reconnection of the interconnection between both and in line with the World Health Organization’s recommendation.

Abayomi added that the Health of man is highly dependent on the health of the environment he lives in stressing that a healthy environment will produce a healthy population, noting that that is the ultimate goal of any responsible government.

Said he: “Biosecurity road map is a very complex road map and essentially, it is hinged on what we call the One Health Paradigm. What we are trying to do is to ensure that we are not operating in silos and this is why the Ministry of Health is working with its sister agencies like Ministry of the Environment, Agriculture, Physical planning, Justice to define a strategy moving forward and that strategy is based on the concept that we are only as healthy as our environment”.

The Commissioner explained further that the One Health Paradigm requires all agencies to come together to create a healthy environment noting that this synergy is not isolated to Lagos or Nigeria alone.

Said he: “The One Health Paradigm involves all agencies to come together to create a healthy environment. It is not isolated to Lagos or Nigeria, it is a global phenomenon and we must promote it globally. We are trying to adopt the World Health Organisation and the United Nations convention on preservation of biodiversity on the protection of the environment”.

Abayomi noted that the One Health Paradigm training was borne out of the need to upscale the State Government’s preparedness against future biosecurity threats especially in light of the lessons learnt from the recent COVID 19 pandemic.

He noted that Lagos is working towards the prevention of biological threats as against cure and would rather spend more time and resources in the prevention of a pandemic than manage it.

The Commissioner however urged all agencies to work together in achieving a safe environment as it is the Ministry of Health that deals with the consequences of the inability to protect and keep the environment healthy.

“We do not want to witness a pandemic, we will rather spend our time and resources in preventing it. The Ministry of Health deals with the consequences of biosecurity threats and this is why we need to work across agencies to protect the State from biological shock. We should be dealing with prevention instead of the after effect”, He said.

Signed

Tunbosun Ogunbanwo

Director, Public Affairs

15th April, 2021

SOLUDO: THE REFORMER, HIS TRAVAILS AND TRIUMPHS IN DEFENCE OF THE MASSES*

8/03/2021

Written By Joe C. Anatune

Publisher: DANIELS G.O

We all crave for positive changes. We mouth them, desire them and even strive to have them. Such changes often come with cultural and lifestyle disruptions or shocks, to the extent that even the voracious advocates turn around to resist them. This is Soludo’s cross in his defence of the masses in order to improve their lot. Such is the normal run of human affairs.

Take this for example. Before Cee Cee Soludo took over the leadership of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), our banking landscape was pretty retrogressive and ugly, with weak capitalisation, lack of confidence in the system by depositors, poor governance regime, loss of deposits, long hours in the banking halls by customers, inability to partake in the global financial market, minimal support to economic growth and many more.

Soludo’s well thought-out plan to effect positive changes was vigorously fought back by those who were benefitting from the unproductive system and who were bent on ensuring that the good people of Nigeria did not enjoy banking services as obtainable in civilised parts of world. They fought back with all they had, to prevent progress. Indeed, they fought dirty and vicious.

The fact that banking services are today at our doorstep is due to the courage and resoluteness of one man who nearly sacrificed himself and family in the process. He received many death threats, but when they failed to scare him to submission, they went after his father, who was saved by God’s Special Grace.

So, before we forget, the convenient technology driven banking services we now enjoy, the billionaires that adorn our towns because of greater access to loanable funds, and large numbers of our brothers and sisters that work and earn their livings in the industry are products and manifestations of the sweat and sacrifices of Soludo.

This grim and gritty endeavour can only come from a man who is committed to making his environment better than he met it. It is no longer a secret that Soludo is a humanist, who cares about how people can escape from the firm and vicious grip of poverty. In doing this, he follows the path less travelled by teaching and empowering people on how to create wealth and put bread on the tables of their families. He abhors opportunistic philanthropy. Rather, he lights candles for many.

Now, a grateful Ndi Anambra have noticed these fine qualities of Soludo. For two years now, they have been in the streets of Anambra and elsewhere, asking him to come and serve them and take the achievements of Governor Willie Obiano some notches higher.

Ever prepared, Soludo has given a snippet of where he wants Anambra to go. He envisions the most Livable Smart Megacity in Africa. The people’s minds have been stretched to the possibilities and opportunities inherent in this Promised Land, which will come on the anvils of Obiano’s legacy projects.

Ndi Anambra are joining the Soludo train in droves, but the enemies and saboteurs of Anambra nay Ndi Igbo are afraid that the paradigm will shift in the best interests of the critical mass.

So they must get Soludo out of the way like they tried unsuccessfully in the March 31, 2021 Isuofia attack. Now, Ndi Anambra have known their real enemies and are determined to ensure the fruition of the Soludo PROJECT with their time, treasure and talents. Their motivation is the knowledge that Soludo has a long history of standing for others. As a result, they have resolved to stand with him in the moment of distress and always.

*Joe C. Anatune*

*Anatune writes from Awa in Orumba North Local Government Area, Anambra State*

Lagos State Commissioner For Health Debunks Allegation of Malpractices at Falomo Site

PRESS RELEASE

WE WILL NEVER COMPROMISE FG’s COVID VACCINATION PROTOCOLS – LASG

· Monitors Vaccination Centres

· Vaccinates Over 100,000 Persons

· Debunks Allegation of Malpractices at Falomo Site

· Says Allegation of Sale of Vaccine is False and Unfounded.

Lagos will never compromise on the vaccination protocols rolled out by the Federal Government, the State Government has said.

There have been allegations, such as: the State deploying its own portal to register people; diversification of vaccine; and sale of vaccine.

Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, who stated this today, when he paid an unscheduled visit to some vaccination centres, also disclosed that the State government has vaccinated over 100,000 persons since the vaccination exercise started.

Abayomi and his Information and Strategy counterpart, Mr Gbenga Omotoso visited the vaccination centers located inside the Police Hospital, Falomo and the Mainland Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba to inspect activities at the vaccination sites.

The visit, according to Abayomi, is geared towards getting a firsthand view of the process at the sites, ascertaining the allegations and determining whether activities at the sites are in line with government’s protocol and best practices.

While noting that unscheduled visits to vaccination sites are part of the State government’s monitoring and compliance strategy to ensure a seamless vaccination, the Commissioner said top officials of the Ministry and independent assessors had been going round to ensure compliance to vaccination protocols.

Speaking after monitoring activities at the vaccination site located inside the Police Hospital, Falomo, Abayomi disclosed that the visit was to verify the allegations of malpractices at the site and ensure that vaccination protocols are strictly implemented.

Said he: “This is Falomo Police medical facility, which has been in the press recently. This is an unscheduled visit and they did not know we were coming. We do this all the time; we pay unscheduled visits to our facilities without informing the management in order to find out firsthand and real time how things are in the facilities.

“The Commissioner of Police in charge of this facility is not aware we are coming and this is deliberate in order for us to find out if there is any truth in the allegations that have been made against the centre, although we have done our investigation”.

Responding to the allegation of malpractices, the Commissioner of Police in Charge of the Hospital, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, denied it all and challenged anyone with evidence of malpractices to come forward with it.

He said: “The Lagos State Government has stated clearly the categories of people that are qualified for vaccination in the first phase of the exercise. Before you can come into this facility, you must qualify for the vaccination and if you see the notice at the entrance of our facility, there is a notice listing the categories of people to be vaccinated and these are the groups of people we grant admission here”

“Anybody can make allegations, but anybody making allegations of thugs at our gate should come and substantiate the allegation. We at Falomo have continued to insist on strict adherence to the guidelines given by the state government.

“Nobody can collect money here; the allegation is baseless. Anybody who is alleging that somebody is collecting money should come forward with evidence”.

Abayomi also debunked the allegation of vaccine sales at any of the 88 vaccination sites, stating that the allegation at the Ikate vaccination site is “untrue and baseless”.

He explained that COVID vaccination protocols are strictly monitored to ensure accountability of every unit of the vaccine received by the State, adding that every unit administered on citizens is accounted for at every stage of the process.

Abayomi noted that every unit of vaccine administered tallies with the vaccination card and the barcode on the vaccination card as part of the quality assurance and accountability framework put in place. He stated that it is difficult and near impossible for any unit of vaccine to be sold without being detected.

“This why vaccinators are mandated to return every unit vaccine vial after use to us for proper audit; we then destroy the vial ourselves after proper audit has been taken and every vial accounted for”, he said.

The Commissioner, while imploring citizens to desist from making unsubstantiated allegations and comments about the vaccination, challenged anyone with evidence of corrupt practices to come forward with it.

He noted that false allegations and rumours peddled by some citizens about the vaccination are inimical to the goal of the campaign, which the State government is striving to achieve.

Abayomi advised Lagosians to jettison any allegation that is not substantiated, stressing that it is a deliberate attempt to subvert the exercise and discourage citizens from accepting the vaccine.

“The state government, in keeping with its excellent antecedent, is working hard to ensure a successful vaccination exercise and we can only do this with the support and cooperation of our citizens and stakeholders”, Abayomi said.

Signed

Tunbosun Ogunbanwo
Director, Public Affairs
25th March, 2021

E-REGISTRATION IS MANDATORY TO GETTING COVID VACCINE IN LAGOS STATE – ABAYOMI

DANIELS G.O

26TH MARCH,2021

E-REGISTRATION IS MANDATORY TO GETTING COVID VACCINE IN LAGOS STATE – ABAYOMI

Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi has stressed the need for citizens who fit into Phase One of the ongoing COVID vaccination exercise to register on dedicated COVID vaccination self registration portal before visiting any of the 88 vaccination sites for the COVID vaccine noting that e-registration is now a mandatory protocol in the process for vaccination in Lagos State.

Abayomi who disclosed this today after reviewing the modalities for the implementation of the vaccination campaign stated that eligible persons that fit into Phase One of the exercise are expected to pre-register on https://www.nphcdaict.com.ng or https://www.vaccination.gov.ng and fill the electronic form with their
qualifying verifiable details, preferred vaccination site, date, and time.

He added that qualifying persons for vaccination should pre-register 24 to 48 hours before their intended date of vaccination. This, he noted is geared towards ensuring a strictly scheduled vaccination exercise that is efficient, swift, seamless and devoid of delay and overcrowding at the vaccination sites.

Said he: “We encourage all Lagosians hoping to be vaccinated according to the qualification criteria for Phase One to strictly utilize the pre-registration portal provided by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and get a schedule vaccination appointment before visiting the vaccination site as scheduled”

The Commissioner explained that after a successful pre-registration, a vaccination ID will be generated by the portal with a confirmation text message and email sent to each enrollees who are qualified to get the vaccine.

“The generated pre-registration ID, confirmation text message and a valid means of Identification are the only guarantee that an eligible person who fit into Phase One of vaccination exercise would be attended to when they visit any of the 88 vaccination sites as scheduled, to get the COVID vaccines”, he said

While frowning at the report that suggest that citizens who do not fit into Phase One of the vaccination campaign are daily crowding the vaccination sites to get vaccinated, Abayomi warned such people to stay clear the vaccination sites adding that the State government will no longer tolerate any action that is inimical to the success of the vaccination campaign.

“We will in the long run vaccinate everybody and we plan to move from Phase One to other phases as quickly as we can. But citizens need to support our quest to successfully implement this exercise by adhering strictly to our guidelines and instructions.

“We cannot do this on our own and this is why we are appealing to Lagosians to stay the course and stick to the guidelines which we have set out. This guidelines are for the overall public good and we will ensure its full implementation in the interest of our citizens”, the Commissioner stated.

While hinting that the electronic registration portal is open to the public, Abayomi noted however that ONLY eligible participants within Phase One
should register for the vaccination now. He disclosed that information on the vaccination of other participants
in Phases two to Phase four will be released subsequently.

“We have decided that pre-registration must be done before anyone can visit the vaccination sites. Our vaccination teams have been informed and mandated to attended only to eligible persons with a registration ID, confirmation text message and valid means of Identification. I therefore implore persons who are eligible to take part in the Phase One of the exercise to ensure they fulfill this criteria before visiting our sites”, Abayomi said.

Signed

Tunbosun Ogunbanwo Director Public Affairs
25th March, 2021