Ondo State Government on Thursday in Akure inaugurated a strategy tagged ‘Scale 3.02 to accelerate integrated COVID-19 vaccination’ in the state.
Speaking during the ceremony, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Ajaka, said that COVID-19 remained a public health concern with numerous devastating effects.
Ajaka said that many strategies had been put in place to combat the ravaging pandemic, adding that vaccination remained the identified best solution.
“You all will recall that Nigeria started her vaccination response strategies from SCALES 1.0 and then SCALES 2.0.
“Even though these strategies have proven to be effective in increasing COVID-19 vaccination coverage in the country, the proportion of fully vaccinated Nigerians (25 per cent) is still low.
“To further ramp up our coverage and ensure all eligible citizens of the country are reached, the Federal Government, through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) developed the SCALES 3.0 strategy.
“The SCALES 3.0 is an optimized 3-months strategy to accelerate integrated COVID-19 vaccination and address identified implementation gaps in ramping up coverage in Nigeria,” he said.
SCALES is an acronym for ‘Service delivery, Communication, Accountability, Logistics, Electronic reporting and Supportive supervision’ for the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination.
The Commissioner said that the new strategy would address the implementation gaps in SCALES 2.0 and bring about more accountability for performance.
It would also strengthen electronic data reporting and promote demand generation at the community level.
He lauded Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, for providing an enabling environment for successful COVID-19 vaccination and routine immunisation.
Ajaka also commended the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (OSPHCDA), and all health partners for working tirelessly to ensure success story in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic in the state.
He tasked traditional and religious leaders, market women, students, health workers and other stakeholders to appeal to those that were yet to be vaccinated to get their COVID-19 vaccine.
“Ensure you mention COVID-19 vaccination to at least one person in your various environment and direct them to where they can easily obtain the vaccine.
“This time around more vaccination outreach sites have been established and you can easily get vaccinated.
“This can be done in all public health facilities across the 18 Local Government Areas and some designated private health facilities,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary of OSPHCDA, Dr Francis Akanbiemu, advised the people to keep adhering to the COVID-19 guidelines for their safety.
Akanbiemu added that the new strategy of vaccination was to ensure a safer and healthy society.