~Says many didn’t believe COVID-19 was real ab-initio
The leader of village heads of Yolde Pate, in Yola South local government, Alhaji Muhammadu Jingi has disclosed that initially, administering COVID-19 vaccination was a daunting task because majority of the people did not believe COVID-19 pandemic was real.
Jingi who made the revelation during a chat with our reporter noted that most of the people resisted the vaccination due to rumours to the effect that it is a mechanism by the western world to bring strange diseases on the people.
“When we started the COVID-19 vaccination campaign, people especially those in the hinterland resisted it saying they are hale and hearty and do not want the vaccine.
“Their stand has to do with wild speculations that the whole arrangement is a machination by the western world to afflict the developing countries with strange diseases,” he said.
He noted that as a result of the challenge, he has to convene a meeting with all the four village heads and twenty four ward heads of Yolde Pate where they resolved to start massive campaign against those myths.
“It was resolved that as leaders we must lead by example by taking the jab first. Myself and all the village and ward heads were the first to recieve the vaccination in the presence of our followers.
“We then decided to take the enlightenment visits to all the wards where we told them that the vaccination is not harmful since it did not harm us in any way.
“With our persistence and subtle message of hope, many people yielded especially against the backdrop that taking the vaccine has the potential to prevent all from getting or spreading the deadly disease,” he said.
Jingi noted that there is now a renewed interest by the people to gat vaccinated as they are now willingly availing themselves for the vaccine.
“Most people who got vaccinated have been attesting that they are better off health wise than before taking it. The encouraging story has prodded many to come forward for the vaccination.
“As I’m talking to you, people are willingly coming to me requesting to be vaccinated. Even this morning about five people came here requesting to be vaccinated and I directed them to the healthcare center. People even call me on phone requesting information on where to go to have the jab,” he said.
He noted that with the renewed awareness around the vaccination, he is optimistic that the whole area will be covered soon as the speculations around the vaccination has been nixed by time and the reality that the vaccination is not harmful.
