Vaccination efforts against COVID-19 are underway in a global effort that is only as strong as its weakest link. Support is going to be urgently required to attain what the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund has delineated as “one of the most important mass undertakings in human history.”One of the most important hurdles in reaching the world’s most vulnerable individuals is going to be convincing them that vaccines and individuals providing them are trustworthy. Winning this trust would require a massive, united effort from governments, public health consultants, humanitarian teams, and native community leaders.
This issue of public trust is perhaps the most acute in conflict zones, where individuals have long experienced discrimination, corruption, general social process, and neglect — typically at the hands of their governments.
Nigerians do not trust their government, health system, and lawmakers. When people lose trust in their health authorities and their governments, sound guidance can fall by the wayside. But we can help restore trust in a way that supports both effective vaccine delivery and lasting peace. Lessons from other crises show this.
WHO and governments should also partner with and fund organisations already on the ground, especially those with an established and trusted local presence preceding the pandemic. This needs to involve local civil society, youth, and women’s groups, and business, traditional, and religious leaders, in a meaningful way to both design and implement grassroots campaigns that will build trust between communities and their governments, as well as trust in vaccines.
Racheal Samuel,
Bauchi.
YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
We Have Not Had Water Supply In Months ― Abeokuta Residents
In spite of the huge investment in the water sector by the government and international organisations, water scarcity has grown to become a perennial nightmare for residents of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. This report x-rays the lives and experiences of residents in getting clean, potable and affordable water amidst the surge of COVID-19 cases in the state.
Selfies, video calls and Chinese documentaries: The things you’ll meet onboard Lagos-Ibadan train
The Lagos-Ibadan railway was inaugurated recently for a full paid operation by the Nigerian Railway Corporation after about a year of free test-run. Our reporter joined the train to and fro Lagos from Ibadan and tells his experience in this report…
[ICYMI] Lekki Shootings: Why We Lied About Our Presence — General Taiwo
The Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry probing the killings at Lekki Toll Gate, on Saturday resumed viewing of the 24hrs footage of the October 20, 2020 shooting of #EndSARS protesters by personnel of the Nigerian Army…
The Nigerian stock market ended Tuesday’s trading session on a bullish note, with the All-Share…
The remains of a final-year student of Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin, Hafsoh Lawal,…
"The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has created the enabling environment and is still…
As anticipation builds for the 4th edition of the Afrobeats Music Festival (AMF) scheduled to…
The State Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps in Ondo, Mrs Kuburat Omowumi Bakare,…
Tuesday’s proceedings was marked by arguments over the proper processes to...
This website uses cookies.