Workers in Federal Establishments in A’Ibom directed to take a jab of COVID-19 vaccine

All Heads of Federal Government Establishments in Akwa Ibom State have been directed to take their first dose of Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

This directive was handed down by the Chairman Association of Heads of Federal Establishments in Akwa Ibom, Mr Enoh Uyoh, during the association March general meeting held at the federal secretariat in Uyo, yesterday.

He called on all heads of federal establishments to submit themselves to the ongoing vaccination exercise in the state and also urged other staff members to do same, adding that he has already taken the vaccination and it was not harmful.

“I want to urge you all to submit yourselves to the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination exercise, as it has been approved by Federal and State Governments because of its safety and verified efficacy,”.

Uyoh, a Director of National Orientation Agency (NOA) in the state, reminded the people that COVID-19 was still around, and advised that there was need for strict adherence to safety protocols as directed by the Nigeria Centre for Disease and Control (NCDC).

The chairman also reminded the heads of establishments that they were all ambassadors of the federal government and hence should project what the FG was doing to the people in their different establishments.

“You must let the people know what your establishment is doing, and what the Federal Government is also doing through your establishment to improve on the living standard of Nigerians,” he said.

Earlier, the head of Public Enlightenment National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Mr Ben Esang, said that NAPTIP as an agency of government was committed to the prevention of all forms of human degradation and exploitation through coordinated use of the country’s crime prevention and law enforcement resources, to stamp out human trafficking.

He added that the agency would continue to work in collaboration with other agencies to ensure the elimination and prevention of the root causes of the problem of trafficking of any person.

He said that selling of babies and domestic servitude were rampant in the state and charged parents and guardians to be mindful of what their children were doing to avoid exploitation.

The public enlightenment officer said the agency has rehabilitated over 100 victims of human trafficking in the last one year.