Home NEWS COVID-19 vaccines hesitancy, self-medication – Faith-based groups urged to sensitise members

COVID-19 vaccines hesitancy, self-medication – Faith-based groups urged to sensitise members

by News
62 views
covid-19-vaccines-hesitancy,-self-medication-–-faith-based-groups-urged-to-sensitise-members

Nigerians have been discouraged from self-medication and hesitating to submit to COVID-19 vaccinations.

They have also been urged to consult with medical experts in the management of Malaria, COVID-19, Tuberculosis and other diseases of public health importance.

Cross River State Coordinator, Break-Through Action Nigeria, Dr. Kennedy Orazulike gave the advice during a 2-Day orientation workshop for faith-based organizations in Calabar to highlight the implications of vaccines hesitancy and self-medication

He said the orientation was a way of sensitising the residents about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines and ways to combat the increase in malaria in the state.

“The major reason why we decided to gather faith-based organisations is because there has been a lot of hesitancy by people to submit to COVID-19 vaccinations.

“There has also been an increase in the prevalence of malaria in Cross River State. This is why we took it upon ourselves to drive the demand that Faith-based organisations should sensitise the locals and tell them not to engage in self-medication.

“We want them to have a change of behaviour over vaccines. We all know that 99.9 percent of Nigerians are either Christians or Muslims and we value our Imams and Pastors very much so we believe that we could use the platforms to educate people on the danger of self-medication.” He said.

On his part, Director of Public Health, Cross River State, Dr. Bassey Offor, charged the Faith-Based Organisations on their role as leaders in their congregations to influence the behavioural change of members on the dangers of self-medication.

The State Coordinator of the Muslim Community in Cross River State, Alhaji Shaban Abdulahi, explained that there has been hesitancy because COVID-19 came up with a lot of rumours.

Representative of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Martins Oman, ” I want to appeal to us religious leaders to please, let’s see how we can take the advocacy to our congregations with the message that self-medication is dangerous and especially that the COVID-19 vaccine is safe. And for Malaria, they should use their Insecticide Mosquito nets to prevent malaria fever. “

You may also like

Leave a Comment