Dr. Babagana Machina, the Executive Secretary of, Yobe State Primary Health Care Management Board, has called on emirs to support the board’s efforts toward tackling the rejection of COVID-19 vaccines.
The board is also soliciting emirs in the state support in addressing the misuse of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF).
Machina made the plea in Potiskum when he paid an advocacy visit to the Emir of Fika, Alhaji Muhammad Ibn-Abali on Tuesday.
He said the Board’s management would visit the 14 emirs in the state and seek for their support in educating the general public on the need to key into the mass vaccination exercise against the disease.
“We are here to seek for your fatherly support in helping us to reach out to the people of your Emirate, especially Potiskum town, to come out in large number to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
“The more our people get vaccinated, the more we are safe.
“Yobe is currently ranked 14th in the country in the ongoing COVID-19 mass vaccination, moving away from the previous 32nd position, but this is not good enough for the state compared to our previous record.
“If 20 percent of the population in Potiskum Local Government Area alone will get vaccinated, it will really reduce the low coverage currently being recorded by the state,’’ the Executive Secretary said.
Machina warned healthcare workers against misuse of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) meant for malnourished children.
He expressed concern over primary healthcare workers’ alleged connivance with other individuals to divert the RUTF and sell to people, who in most cases do not need it.
“Even mothers and caregivers are engaging in this scandal.”
He, therefore, called on the emirs to educate their subjects against the illegal activities which could undermine efforts at tackling Severe Acute Malnutrition in the area.
In his remarks, Ibn-Abali, who is also the Chairman of, Yobe Council of Chiefs, promised continuous support to the board to ensure that majority of the populace were vaccinated against COVID-19.
“We will continue to assist in sensitising the public through clerics, districts, village, and ward heads to accept COVID-19 vaccination,” he said.
He, however, advised the board to strengthen its RUTF distribution methods to block all forms of leakages in the distribution of the food supplement.
