Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Thursday urged the people to take advantage of the newly launched exercise by the state government aimed at vaccinating 4 million residents against COVID-19, assuring that the vaccine is 99.9 percent safe.
The Governor, who spoke at the closing ceremony of the 21st National Women’s Conference of the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO) held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, said a simulation exercise recently conducted revealed that the state may enter into the fourth wave by December if care is not taken.
“We are out of the third wave but if we are not careful, the simulation we conducted shows that we can have a fourth wave in December. So, why is it a concern? In December, we usually have huge traffic of travellers. Lagos continues to remain the hub of international travel; we continue to remain the hub of inland waterways services because of the ports here.
“Lagos even continues to remain the hub of land borders. So, Lagos carries the air, the sea and land borders. Lagos cannot sit back and just fold its arms and not do anything,” he said.
Giving details of the vaccination exercise tagged “Count Me In,” the Governor said from Monday, the vaccine would be available in over 800 locations, just as he appealed to people who are yet to get their jabs to take advantage of the exercise, as the vaccine is safe.
“I want to appeal to all of you that have not taken the vaccine that from Monday, the vaccine will be available in over 800 locations. Right now, it’s just in about 100 locations but by Monday, we are pushing it into private hospitals; into all primary health centres; and all public hospitals so that everybody can have access to have their jab.
“The complaint before was that we did not have the vaccine. Now, we have gotten the vaccine; we need people to come out to get their jabs and I can assure you that it is safe; it is 99.9 percent safe. We don’t know how the fourth wave will turn out, and so I am appealing to those who are yet to have their jabs to do so,” he said.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the conference, COWLSO called on government through the Ministry of Health and various stakeholders to institute policies mandating screening for cancer, and HPV vaccination for the girl-child from age 10.
“As a people, we should raise awareness and engage in advocacy to encourage screening so that the three preventable types of cancer – Breast and Cervical (for women) and Prostate (For Men) would actually remain prevented.
“The government, through the Ministry of Health and various stakeholders, should also institute policies mandating screening for these checks and HPV Vaccination for the girl-child from age 10.”
They also recommended that: “As women, we should maintain a healthy record keeping, savings and financial planning culture, in readiness for financing opportunities that could surface.
“The government, in support of women, through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Policy Alleviation at the State and Federal Levels should organize seminars from time to time to educate women on how to keep basic financial records in an effective way, so as to access funds and position them for global opportunities.
“That women should maintain and demonstrate a constant state of readiness by taking advantage of available education, advocacy and community engagement as it relates to COVID-19. The government in turn should ensure deliberate and continuous investment in healthcare delivery, leveraging on technology for further reach.
“That as women, we should rebrand and care for ourselves, possessing strength, perseverance and humility as qualities. We should support and encourage aspiration and leadership.”
In his closing remarks, Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki who was represented by the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwole Iyamu, SAN, said Lagos remained a pace setter in courses of development in the country.
“Where – ever Lagos goes, eventually Nigeria goes. This State has exported so much to so many other places. There are people who have lived in Lagos and have taken the adventures back home in order to develop it. We want to ask you to continue,” he said.
According to him, the lessons learnt from the Conference have been noted and the same would be introduced and implemented in his home State.
Quoting the saying that when you “train a woman, you train a nation”, Obaseki who closed the Conference, applauded the philanthropic disposition of the Committee towards development courses, charging them “not to become weary.”
On her part, Lagos State First Lady and COWLSO Chairman, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, said the conference theme – “Awake,” was designed to bring women in tune with modern realities and opportunities.
She further emphasized on the need for equal opportunities for women, stressing it was paramount to give them a right of place in leadership position.
According to her, the “positive impacts of the mind shifting training” held during the conference “would be felt across all strata of the society.
