Health
Youths in Plateau Central get sensitized on COVID-19 Vaccine Safety & Effectiveness by Comr Friday Bako (Photos)
Youth influencers drawn from Pankshin, Mangu, Kanam, Kanke, and Bokkos Local Government areas of Plateau central zone have been sensitized on Covid-19 Vaccine safe and Effectiveness at a townhall meeting.
The town hall meeting with Youth influencers was in tandem with the project activities for Covid-19 Vaccine Public Awareness, Vaccines safety and effectiveness by Friday Bako with support from the MacArthur Foundation and the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) held on Friday, 17th June at Chorbe Hall, Pankshin LGA, Plateau State
Public Health Policy Manager, Consultant Pathologist Bingham University Teaching Hospital, and Financial Secretary, NMA Plateau State Chapter, Dr Mbwas Mashor, while delivering a presentation spoke on Covid-19 Vaccine Safety and Effectiveness.
He stated that the world Governments Provided a speedy remedy to the Covid-19 pandemic due to the many restrictions it came with, as it even shut down world economies, even leading to the restrictions on international travels, which led to stakeholders investing in the production of the vaccine to ensure that there was a recovery of world economies.
Dr Mbwas Mashor, while allaying the fears of participants on the Covid-19 Vaccines, stated that the vaccines have passed through all required safety stages including the approval of the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before it was authorized for public use.
“The more we all take the vaccine, the more we all get immunity against the vaccine, It means that the virus will not have any conducive environment to multiply and therefore we will stop the multiplication of the virus around and then with time the elimination the virus ads such it must be a collective effort”.
Acceptance of the vaccine is a collective effort, if only a few people get the vaccine, the virus will now multiply amongst those that did not get the vaccine and will constitute a nuisance and become a problem and disease to the people, that is why it is important for everyone to get the vaccine so that we will develop a higher immunity so the virus will have no individual left to multiply”. Dr Mbwas further stated.
Comr Friday Bako, Implementing Partner of CITAD/MacArthur Foundation COVID-19 Vaccine Public Awareness Project, while addressing participants at the town hall meeting, stated that the meeting was an opportunity to reach out to influential youths because of their strengths in diseminating information.
He called on Youths to be ambassadors that will talk to others about the safety and effectiveness of the covid-19 Vaccines so as to increase the vaccine uptake in the state as the only alternative to curb the dreaded covid-19 virus.
Comr Bako admonished them to go back to their communities, sharing whathas been discussed in correcting the misinformation and disinformation that has hermperd the uptake of the Vaccines thereby increasing the level of general acceptability within Plateau state and Nigeria in general.
The high point of the Town Hall meeting was the presentation of drama on covid19 Vaccine safety, with many participants assenting to become advocates and ambassadors for correcting some of the wrong perceptions that are contributing to the slow uptake of the covid-19 vaccines, especially in Nigeria.
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported that the case fatality rate for Lassa fever rose to 19.3 per cent in 2026, up from 18.9 per cent recorded during the same period in 2025.
The agency disclosed this in its Lassa Fever Situation Report for Epidemiological Week 23, covering 1 to 7 June 2026.
According to the report, the number of newly confirmed cases remained unchanged from the previous week, with infections recorded in Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, and Ebonyi states.
The NCDC also noted that no new infections among healthcare workers were reported during the week under review. The outbreak spreads across 23 states.
The report showed that the outbreak has affected 23 states and 109 Local Government Areas (LGAs) since the beginning of the year.
It added that both suspected and confirmed cases have increased compared to figures recorded during the same period in 2025, indicating continued transmission of the disease.
According to the agency, five states account for the majority of confirmed infections nationwide. Ondo State recorded the highest burden, accounting for 28 per cent of confirmed cases, followed by Bauchi with 25 per cent, Taraba with 15 per cent, Edo with 10 per cent, and Benue with six per cent.
The remaining 16 per cent of confirmed cases were reported across 18 other states. Young adults are most affected.
The NCDC said young adults remain the most affected age group in the current outbreak.
It noted that the highest number of infections was recorded among persons aged between 21 and 30 years.
According to the report, confirmed cases ranged in age from 1 to 93 years, with a median age of 30 years. Response efforts ongoing
The agency said the National Lassa Fever Multi-Partner, Multi-Sectoral Incident Management System (IMS) remains activated to coordinate response activities across affected areas.
It explained that the system is supporting surveillance, case management, and other response interventions at the federal, state, and local government levels.
READ ALSO: Ebola: NCDC raises importation risk, says Nigeria remains case-free
Despite the absence of new healthcare worker infections in Week 23, the NCDC said the rising fatality rate and the continued spread of the disease across multiple states underscore the need for sustained response efforts.
It added that surveillance and case management activities are ongoing in all affected states to contain the outbreak and reduce deaths. Lassa fever
Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus, which is transmitted to humans primarily through contact with food or household items contaminated by the urine or faeces of infected rats.
It can also spread from person to person through contact with bodily fluids.
The disease often begins with fever, weakness, and headache, and may progress to more severe symptoms such as bleeding, difficulty breathing, swelling, and organ failure. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment with Ribavirin are critical for improving survival.
The federal government has approved the release of State Outbreak Investigation and Response Funds (S-OIRF) to support outbreak preparedness and response activities nationwide.
The move is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s readiness against Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and other emerging public health threats.
This was made known on Saturday in a statement released by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and signed by the Assistant Director, Information & Public Relations, Ado Bako.
The approval, granted by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, authorises the disbursement of 50 per cent of the S-OIRF allocation, amounting to N21.2 million for each state, through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) Gateway of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).
According to the government, the intervention complements ongoing efforts to strengthen national preparedness and response capacities, including the work of the multi-sectoral Presidential Task Force on Ebola Preparedness and Other Health Threats, chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.
No confirmed Ebola case
The government said Nigeria currently has no confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease, but noted that the release of the funds is intended to ensure states have the resources needed to strengthen surveillance, preparedness and rapid response systems in the event of any public health emergency.
It explained that the approval represents a one-time special dispensation to enable states to access critical preparedness funding amid growing concerns about emerging public health threats.
The government added that the measure also highlights its commitment to accountability and prudent management of public resources.
‘States must account for funds’
As chairman of the BHCPF Ministerial Oversight Committee, Mr Pate directed all beneficiary states to retire both current and previously disbursed outbreak response funds within six months.
He also instructed states to comply fully with established financial management, reporting and accountability requirements.
“Preparedness remains one of the most effective tools in protecting public health. While it is important that states have timely access to resources needed to strengthen outbreak preparedness and response capacities, it is equally important that public funds are managed responsibly and accounted for in line with established regulations,” Mr Pate said.
READ ALSO: Cross River activates Ebola response system, intensifies border surveillance
Mr Pate said the approval demonstrates the government’s commitment to strengthening health security while maintaining accountability, adding that efforts would continue to support states in improving their ability to prevent, detect and respond to public health threats in a transparent and responsible manner.
Background
The federal government’s action followed renewed Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, prompting concerns about the risk of cross-border transmission.
Authorities subsequently announced plans to strengthen surveillance at airports and land borders, activate isolation and referral facilities, and improve coordination among health, aviation and security agencies.
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