By Stanley Onyekwere
The Chairman, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Hon. Abdullahi Adamu Candido and other council officials have received their first doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in the Council.
This is coming as health officials continues vaccination for strategic leaders in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), which the FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu flagged off last week.
Candido, while flagging off the exercise at the council’s secretariat, added that the exercise would continue at the palaces of the four graded chiefs; Karshi, Karu, Garki and Jiwa in the area council.
The AMAC boss added that he will personally monitor the vaccination in all the grade Chiefs in the Area Council to encourage residents to come out and take the Vaccine, and assured that every section of the society in AMAC will be adequately covered in the vaccination exercise.
While urging residents to present themselves for the vaccine, Candido urged them to shun the negative publicity in the social media and come out in mass to receive the vaccine as at when due.
“I want to direct all my cabinet members, all head of departments and all staff of the area council to key into this vaccination.
“We will not force you to take it but it is for your good.I will also direct the director of adminstration to immediately write to our graded chiefs, district and village heads to ensure vaccination of their lesser chiefs in their localities across the twelve wards in the area council.
“I will ask the department of health with effect from tommorow, establish centres in these four palaces and conduct this vaccination so that our people can get this vaccine,” he stated.
Earlier in her remarks, Director, Primary Healthcare, AMAC, Dr. Modupe Adeyinka, noted that the vaccine is an additional safety measure and should not replace the use of mask, social distancing and use of hand sanitizers.
She described the vaccine as safe for all residents , as it will go a long way in addressing the health challenges especially as it consign COVID-19 pandemic.
Our correspondent reports that the event had in attendance the World Health Organization (WHO,) and other stakeholders that delivered their goodwill messages assured the safety and support for the success of the vaccination.
The highpoint of the occasion was the vaccination of Candido, his vice , Council Secretary, Head of AMAC Administration, frontline health workers and other strategic leaders in the Council.
