The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has agreed to collaborate with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) in ensuring that students in all higher institutions in the country are vaccinated.
The Students Association disclosed this in a media briefing with the NPHCDA recently in Abuja.
NANS’ President, Comrade Sunday Asefon, said the association has set out action plans to ensure proper education and orientation of Nigerian Students through awareness and dissemination of information on the vaccination exercise.
Comrade Asefon commended Nigerian Students for their discipline in adhering to all COVID-19 safety guidelines which resulted to minimal number of COVID-19 cases in campuses. He also urged that they get vaccinated before the yuletide season as that is the period in which they go home and get in contact with friends and families.
He said “We are bold to say with pride that our teeming members (Students) across the six geopolitical zones of the federation have demonstrated commitment and resilience in the collective fight against the spread of the deadly virus COVID 19.
“This is evident in the minimum record of cases on any campuses, only very few, this is a clear indication of Nigerian students supportive role and tendency with high level of compliance to the safety guidelines announced by the federal government.
“This further justifies our earlier position that tertiary institutions are most coordinated environments, where government shouldn’t express fear or worry of outbreak, if we are to remain open even all through the lock down.
“Nigerian students and her leadership shall continue to cooperate and partner with – every relevant MDAs to ensure National security and improved welfare for students and standardization of education system in all fronts”.
Asefon also said that there will be awareness campaign kick off/rally and Senate meeting at University of Abuja, then Zonal Congresses across the six geopolitical zones of the federation then campus to campus vaccination exercise by NPHCDA in company of NANS monitoring Team.
To demonstrate commitment and incure trust among Nigerian students, the student leaders present at the media briefing took their first jab in the presence of Journalists.
Also Speaking, the Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) Dr Faisal Shuaib disclosed that the over 80% of Covid-19 deaths in the country are connected to unvaccinated Persons.
According to the boss, the revelation is a wake up call to all unvaccinated persons to get themselves vaccinated against the virus including Nigerian Students.
Dr faisal however assured that NPHCDA will join forces with NANS to ensure that all tertiary institution students are vaccinated against the virus and to achieve herd immunity.
