A health observer has opined that people in Bayelsa state are most exposed to COVID-19 in Nigeria.
Mike Eze, the head of Media Breakthrough Action-Nigeria, a Non-Governmental Organisation said this during a lecture on Wednesday.
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According to data by the NGO, only 4 per cent of the entire population in the state had been vaccinated.
Speaking at the one-day media orientation workshop organized in collaboration with USAID he emphasized the important role of the media in COVID-19 response.
Since the workshop was themed “The Role of the media in the COVID-19 Response: Reaching key Populations.” He urged the media to focus more on sensitizing the people about the COVID-19 vaccine.
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Eze said this can be done through a constant reminder about the virus.
His words: “The role of the media in COVID-19 response cannot be overemphasised because before the people can be vaccinated, they need to know the importance of getting vaccinated,
“They need to know how accessible the vaccines are and it is the role of the media to enlighten them to also know the dangers of not getting vaccinated.
“Only one media house can reach out to millions of people. So, you can imagine the impact when all the media outfits focus on the COVID-19 response campaign.”
Meanwhile, another speaker, Abuja Racheal revealed that the highest number of vaccinated persons are in Nasarawa. She said about 65 per cent of its population had been vaccinated.
The second state with the highest COVID-19 Response was Jigawa with 60 per cent.
She noted while speaking that Bayelsa sits on the char with only 4 per cent.
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During an interactive session with participants from different media, it was gathered that the poor response was due to the following:
The Executive Secretary, Bayelsa State Primary Healthcare Board, Dr Bekesu Martins commended the organisers of the event.
He vowed that the Bayelsa government would support the mass COVID-19 vaccination in the state.
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