By YUSUF ABUBAKAR

Former President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr Idris Omede, says the statutory duty of government at all levels is to protect lives and property of its citizens through the provision of basic health care facilities and services.

Dr Omede, who is also the immediate past Kogi State Commissioner of Health, bared his mind after being administered, along with his staff, with the AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccine in Yola, Adamawa State.

He stressed the need for government at all levels to make as a priority the prevention and protection of the current global pandemic, provide for other health emergencies and terminal ailments, believing in the dictum of a healthy nation, is a wealthy nation.

The renowned physician and public health expert bemoans the attitude and countenance of some state governments in denying its citizens benefits of the vaccine on ombudsman excuses without scientific or medical research proof and poor information of processes, criteria and procedures for vaccine production. Definitely not all conditions have vaccines.

He stated that “vaccine production is based on building blocks with specificity and sensitivity,” and commended the Federal Ministry of Health and Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Covid-19 and most state governments for intervention and response to address the lingering global pandemic.

The former NMA President advised Nigerians to make it a civic duty to get vaccinated in line with the lay down procedures, saying that COVID-19 is real, and whatever can be prevented and avoided should be adhered to for a healthier society, so that we could address other natural and man-made challenges.

“I had the first jab of AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine today. A nation should protect her people’s lives and property. This is one of such. Get yours, if you have not yet,” he admonished.

He expressed optimism in the efficacy of the vaccine, with no any visible side effects as being speculated in some quarters.

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