Ekpenyong Joins South South Leaders for Covid19 Town Hall Meeting in Benin, Edo State

As measures to hit herd immunization and achieve 100% coverage on Covid-19 Vaccination remains a priority, leaders from the South South region of Nigeria have converged in Benin, the Edo state Capital to seek ways of combating rumours, fears and misconception about the Covid19 Vaccines.

The Town Hall Meeting which was organized by the Presidential Steering Committee on Covid-19 in collaboration with National Primary Healthcare Development Agency had representatives from all South South states share their experiences on strategies adopted in reaching out to the already vaccinated groups.

It was also an avenue to galvanize support and buy-in from all stakeholders and key influencers including traditional, religious leaders, government, academia, private sector etc on the need to encourage people to get vaccinated while dispelling all rumors and myths surrounding the Covid-19 Vaccination.

At the end of the event, everyone pledged their support to the ongoing Vaccination exercise in the country and called for Nigerians to embrace vaccines as it will help the nation achieve herd immunity.

With Cross River State emerging top performer in the first round of the Nationwide vaccination exercise, the state has remained a reference point with it’s strategies of mass Mobilization, deliberate Sensitization and awareness creation to both private and public institutes, Religious groups being recommended to other states.

Present at the meeting were the Director General of Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Janet Ekpenyong , the Honourable Minister of health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, the Executive Director of National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Faisal Shuaib, the Chairman House Committee on health, Dr Yusuf Sununu, the Obol Lopon of Ugep, HRM Obol Ofem Eteng Ubana and other first class traditional rulers from the zone, Executive Secretaries of state Primary Healthcare boards, WHO country rep W. Kazadi Mulombo and state reps including Mrs Chisom Emeka(CRS WHO coordinator), Cross River State Coordinator of NPHCDA Mr Julius Idoko and other key stakeholders across the zone.