COVID-19: FCTA to Vaccinates 1.5m Residents in 50 Days

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has highlighted plan to give over 1.5 million residents in the territory across the six area councils COVID-19 vaccines in next 50 days.

The FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, disclosed the hint yesterday at the flagging off of the mass vaccination campaign against the spread of the pandemic at Abuja.

She said the rapid spread of the virus has reinforced the need for an aggressive response and improved efforts to contain the infection and protect residents of the territory.

She said donated high quality medical equipment worth over $700, 000, would contribute immensely to improving quality of healthcare services in the primary and secondary health facilities with better health outcomes in the territory.

She also added that primary healthcare financing has improved steadily in the Federal Capital Territory Appropriation Act from 2019 to 2021, with over 30 per cent increase on the previous year funding provision.

She commended the continued support of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and other partners for their collective responsibility, while pledging that the FCT Administration would continue to work with partners to improve the reach and sustain COVID-19 vaccination in the FCT.

In his remarks, the FCTA Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olusade Adesola, assured that the Administration would continue to enforce the, ‘no mask no entry’ restrictions at public places and regular hand washing campaign or the use of hand sanitisers, with not less than 70 percent alcohol base in all public places, including worship places.

He called on all staff and residents of the territory to take the campaign seriously by making themselves available, including their family members, friends to take the COVID-19 vaccination.

In his remarks, the Executive Director National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuab, thanked President Muhammadu Buhari, for his unrelenting commitment to the cause of COVID-19 vaccination in Nigeria, which has been ranked by the World Health Organization as the best in Africa and fourth best in the world.