By Savinews Reporter
The United States has reiterated commitment to supporting Nigeria and other countries around the world to address issues rising from the COVID-19 pandemic
In her opening remarks at the Flag-Off of the COVID-19 Mass Vaccination Campaign in Imo State hosted by Governor Hope Uzodinma, the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard shared the United States’ Global Action plan to help coordinate areas that the world has identified as the most significant barriers to ending the COVID-19 pandemic.
The campaign is aimed at increasing COVID-19 vaccine access and uptake amongst the people of Imo State as the State is presently one of the states in Nigeria with the lowest vaccine uptake.
Recent data ranks Imo State as 35th out of 36 states and the FCT with only 2.3 percent coverage for COVID 19 vaccinations hence the flag-off of mass vaccination campaign event which serves to accelerate and expand COVID-19 vaccination access and uptake in the state.
Ambassador Leonard noted that the U.S. has recommitted increasing access to vaccines, boosting vaccine confidence by tackling misinformation, improving last-mile vaccine delivery, and supporting health workers to vaccinate people. “Part of this commitment is reflected in the U.S. donation of over 21.8 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, accounting for over 35 percent of the total donations to Nigeria” she stated.
According to her, the United States Government’s commitment is reflected in the technical and logistics support to ensuring that vaccines get to all citizens who need them the most adding that U.S. assistance also focuses on getting vaccines into arms so that no vaccine expires unnecessarily when millions of people need them. “No one is safe from the pandemic until everyone is safe, and the only way to do that is through safe and effective vaccines,” she added.
Ambassador Leonard used the opportunity to recognize the efforts of the U.S. -CDC, USAID, and the U.S. Department of Defense Walter Reed Army Program for their support to Nigeria’s vaccine rollout just as she thanked U.S. CDC’s implementing partner, the Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria (CCFN), for their pivotal role in ramping up vaccine access and uptake in Imo and other states.
She commended Governor Uzodinma for his efforts at making the vaccines available and encouraged all those eligible to come out and get vaccinated to secure the health and wellbeing of Imo people.
The US ambassador, called on community leaders and other gatekeepers to partner government to safeguard the health of the people in their State. “We need your support to champion the vaccination of the people of Imo and protect them from COVID-19. The U.S. Mission in Nigeria stands with you” she added.
She noted that U.S. – CDC, through PEPFAR American Rescue Plan Act funding and its implementing partner, Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria, have been in the forefront of providing support to all citizens of Imo State as it supports over 83% of the estimated people living with HIV in Imo state with comprehensive treatment services.
