By Hassan Zaggi
The Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, has disclosed that community transmission of COVID-19 is currently ongoing and therefore, charged Nigerians to ensure that they are fully vaccinated against the disease.
Addressing the media in Abuja, Monday, the Minister noted that apart from being fully vaccinated, there is the need for Nigerians to still maintain all non-pharmaceutical preventive measures.
This, according to him, will contribute to successful halting of the spread of COVID-19 transmission in Nigeria.
Dr. Ehanire revealed that 13 new cases of COVID-19 have already been recorded between December 31 to January 6 this year.
“From December 31, 2022 to January 6, 2023, 13 new confirmed cases were recorded in Nigeria.
“To date, 266,463 cases have been confirmed, 259,850 cases have been discharged and 3,155 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
“The 13 new cases are reported from 2 States- Lagos 12 and Edo 1. A multi-sectoral National Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), activated at Level 2, continues to coordinate the national response activities.”
Commenting on the surge of COVID-19 in recent days in China, the Minister said that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) COVID-19 Emergency Operation Unit was closely monitoring the rise in the new Omicron sub-lineages XBB.1.5 in the UK and US, as well as the current resurgence COVID-19 trends in China, and other countries with a high volume of traffic to and from Nigeria.
According to him, the sub-variants of COVID-19 have been circulating around the world including Nigeria, and therefore charged residents of Nigeria to ensure they get vaccinated.
“We are working to complete testing and analysis for December 2022. Since the detection of the Omicron variant in December 2021, its sub-lineages (BQ.1/BQ.1.1) has been dominant in Nigeria also as seen in other parts of the world.
“It is important to note that regardless of COVID-19 variants in different parts of the world, severe disease, admissions, and deaths disproportionately affect the unvaccinated and those with established risk factors thus – older people, people with co-morbidities etc,” he stressed.
While soliciting for the support of the media and indeed, all Nigerians, the Minister said: “Together we can achieve the eradication of COVID-19 and prevent the fourth wave from happening. The media’s cooperation is also needed to create awareness as the government cannot do it alone.”
On his part, the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib, disclosed that so far, 65.7 per cent of Nigeria’s eligible population have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
“As at Monday January 9 2023, 76,161,470 eligible persons have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccines in Nigeria, representing 65.7 per cent of our eligible population. 64,094,498 persons have been fully vaccinated and this represents 55.3 per cent of our eligible population. 9,892,018 have received their booster doses.,” he said, revealing that as a result of persons who turned 18 years this year, the country has witnessed an increase in the number of eligible population from 111,773,503 to 115,983,921.
“We are continuously working with all stakeholders at national, state and local government to increase awareness, social mobilisation and increase coverage. As at January 7, 2023, Nigeria has a vaccine stock balance of 28,968,045 doses. More vaccines are still expected over the coming weeks.
“We, therefore, encourage all Nigerians to visit the nearest government facility to ensure they are up to date with either their first, second or booster doses. The COVID-19 vaccines are available, they are free and they are safe.”
