Former Enugu State Governor, Mr Sullivan Chime, has lauded all the COVID-19 agencies of state and Federal Governments for saving the lives of Nigerians from the global pandemic.
Chime made the commendation in Enugu on Monday while receiving the second jab of the Oxford AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Dr George Ugwu, Executive Secretary of the Enugu State Primary Healthcare Development Agency in company of the Team Leader of the NPHCDA, Dr Ogechi Akalonu, vaccinated the former governor.
The ex governor said the agencies including the Nigerian Center for Disease Control (NCDC), National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 as well as the World Health Organization (WHO) deserved commendation.
He also commended state governments for their efforts in fighting the pandemic.
According to him, we have been able to overcome the pandemic in spite of the challenges faced by these agencies and Nigerians which is encouraging.
“I hope that by next year, life will return to normal,” he said.
Chime encouraged the people to endeavor to take the vaccine adding that it was the only way out of the pandemic.
“Luckily, the vaccine is free. Anyone that denies the opportunity to take the vaccine is denying him or herself the opportunity to live a normal life,” the former governor said.
Speaking with NAN shortly after the vaccination, Dr Ugwu of the state primary healthcare development agency expressed satisfaction with the awareness and turnout of the people including various leaders to the vaccination.
“On June 13, His Excellency, Gov Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, his deputy, Mrs Cecilia Ezeilo and the state Chief Judge, Justice Priscilla Emehelu took the second jabs of the vaccine to remind the citizens of the need to take the vaccine.
“Today, the former governor, Mr Chime also received the second jab of the vaccine with his household and some of his close aides,” he said.
The executive secretary urged those who had taken the first jab to immediately receive the second dose as the vaccine would expire in July 9.
“If you do not take the second dose, you won’t be protected. Taking the second dose makes it effective,” he said.
Ugwu disclosed that the agency vaccinated 33,800 in the first dose of the 65,400 doses received while the balance were being used for the second dose.
He said that over 5,000 persons had so far taken the second dose adding that more people would be covered before its expiration in July.
In her contributions, the representative of the NPHCDA, Dr Akalonu disclosed that the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine was the best for Nigerians.
She said that so far, Nigeria did not record any blood clot or casualty from the vaccine which showed that it was good for the people.
Akalonu urged the people to continue to observe the protocols of wearing face masks, physical distancing and hand washing as well as living a healthy life for protection from diseases.
