COVID-19: Get Vaccinated Against Future Emergencies – Edo NLC Urges Workers, Citizens

…set to embarks on sensitization campaign across Edo State

By Simeon OSAJIE

The Edo State Coordinator, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Covid-19 Response Mechanism Project, Osabuohien Itohan Philomena has called on the employers of labour to take measures to minimize the risk of transmission of Covid-19 among workers, visitors, contractors and all those who are involved in business with the workplace by ensuring that there is proper hygiene in the workplace.

Osabuohien Philomena stated this at a press briefing held at NUPENG House, Aduwawa, Benin City, Edo State capital. The programme was organised by Edo State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on the Covid-19 testing and sensitization campaign.

Speaking, the State Coordinator, Covid-19 Response Mechanism Project, Osabuohien Philomena said, the state governments has the intrinsic power to regulate the public health, safety, and welfare of their people. “It is in the light of this that we are calling on all the state governments across the country not to abdicate their responsibilities of ensuring that all the people in their domains are mobilized to go for testing and also get vaccinated against Covid-19,” she said.

Going further, she added that the the world of work has been greatly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic since it was discovered in China in 2019.

“The pandemic has threatened and caused economic and social disruptions for businesses and individuals around the world. Work places were closed down, with many workers thrown out of employment because the employers could not maintain the pre-Covid-19 pay and incentives for them.

“COVID-19, when it came, changed the social and economic aspects of our lives. It also transformed the work environment, dictating how, where and when work is done.

“With the disruptions caused by the pandemic in places of work and in the society, it became very necessary for the working people in Nigeria to be mobilized for testing and vaccination against the disease so that the workplace will be free of Covid-19, for optimal productivity to be attained.

“It was In light of this development that the NLC sought the support of the Global Fund to undertake the project which include, Social Mobilization for Covid-19 Testing and Vaccination in the Workplace to compliment the efforts of the government on public health management in Nigeria. The project is being supervised by National Agency for the control of Aids (NACA),” she said.

Osabuohien Philomena said, the State focus of the project is for the union to engage in massive mobilization and sensitization of the workers and their employers to embrace testing for and vaccination against Covid-19. This is because the workplace provides access to workers in their large numbers and can be used to provide them with information on the pandemic.

She emphasized that the project was intended for implementation in the 12 high burdened Covid19 states in Nigeria, which are Lagos, Rivers, Kaduna, Plateau, Oyo, Edo, Ogun, Delta, Ondo, Kano, Kwara and the FCT. The timeline for the project was from January 2021 to 31st December, 2023.

“The activities carried out so far under this project include: “Review and Validation of the Workplace Guideline on Covid-19; The C19 RM Grant Start-up Orientation Workshop which held on the 11th and 12th January, 2022 in Abuja. The programme had 25 participants drawn from the stakeholders’ organizations;

“Top Management Labour Leaders and Implementation Units for Social Mobilization: State Focal Persons and Top Leaders of unions involved in the implementation of the project. A total of 25 participants were in
attendance at the programme;

“National Staff Orientation Meeting on 5″ to 6™ July, in Abuja. The programme had 25 participants in attendance;

“Step down Training for State Co-coordinators 8°” and 9″ and 11″ and 12″ August, 2022 in the 12 states. 25 participants attended the programme in each of the 12 states;

“Risk communication for Peer influencers in the 12 states from 21st to 22nd 2022 and 24th and 25th November, 2022. 55 participants attended the programme in each of the 12 states.”

She opined that the union will by tomorrow, 27th June, 2023 take its sensitization campaign to Guinness Nigeria Plc and Oregbeni Market to get the workers and traders to go for testing and vaccination for Covid-19. On 27th June 2023, while the union will also engage the workers of State Secretariat, and Central Park on the need to get them to also get tested and vaccinated against the disease.