National Telescope national telescope newspaper
By Daniel Ayantoye
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Sen. Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe, has assured Nigerians that the distribution of Vaccines will not be politicized.
The Senator gave the assurance in an interview Monitored by CAMPUS FOCUS on NTA weekends deal on Saturday, Oct. 21.
He stated that the vaccine which will be about 44 million doses will be available to Nigeria on equity bases.
“Am a Medical Doctor and I have been in the profession for the last 36 years. As far as I know, there is no politicization of vaccines and I mean of health care generally. There are always criteria. There is prioritization base on our discussion with PTF and that’s the way it is anywhere in the world which is to look at the highest risk.
He said, “Politicians are not among the highest risk except if they fall into category of health workers – who they call frontliners.”
According to him “The commitment that Nigeria has now from the foreign partners as far as vaccines is concern is for about 20% of our population which will be about 44 million doses. I don’t see why it will be given to just for politicians. And it hasn’t been like that. We have other vaccines that are been given and they are not been selectively giving to people.
“I want to assure all that as a medical doctor who has taking hypocratic oat, this is to save human lives in respective of greed, religion ethnicity, class and so on. The services will be available to all Nigerians on Equity basis.” He said.
Speaking on contribution to his constituency since the outbreak of the pandemic, Senator Oloriegbe who is representing Kwara Central at the National Assembly, disclosed face mask and other covid-19 preventive materials have been distributed at the early period of the outbreak.
He also said, “when I go home as legislator when I go home to my constituency which I do frequently, they say you live by example, people that visit my constituency office as well as my home, you have placed there washing facilities, use see sanitizers and then anybody that has to call in for any meeting with me will have to wear mask. That the first thing to show people that this thing is in reality.
While commending the Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on his effort in combating the pandemic in the state, the Senator said “Beyond that in the state where I come from, the Governor live by example, the government has provided at various points hand washing particularly in markets, schools and other public places and every event that hold in that State, is strictly in line with covid-19 protocol.
“There is continuous radio, jingle that urge people to keep the protocol because the best preventive method is still social distancing, hand sanitizing and wearing of mask and of course avoiding crowded environment.” He added.
