As skepticism on taking the Covid19 vaccines is growing among people and trust deficit between government and Nigerian citizens is also widening, there is need for organization working in the area of creating awareness to bring experts in the area of diseases prevention and curation to dispel and regain the trust of the citizens to ensure every citizen get vaccinated in order to defeat the virus squarely. It is for this reason that the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) hosted Professor Isah Abubakar Sadeeq, Director, Center for Infectious Diseases, Bayero University, Kano to discuss on the Safeness of Covid19 Vaccines and why everyone should get Vaccinated. The professor started the discussion by informing the audience about the number of vaccines developed globally and their efficacy by saying that “There are more than 100 candidates’ vaccines at different stages of Clinical trials but so far Nigerian authorities have authorized the use of 6 of them. Of them modern and Pfizer Biotech have the best efficacy rates of 95-96% but are more difficult to handle & more expensive” and when he was asked about the importance of the mass vaccination, he went further to state that “Mass vaccination is essential in that it raises the Community level immunity referred to as herd immunity. When about 80-90 % is reached, transmission of the virus may not be possible. The disease may thus be eliminated through the mass immunization strategy”

Hello everyone,

Join me to welcome @ICTAdvocates today’s twitter chat guest on #CITADagainstCovid19, Prof. @isaabubakar_, Director, Centre for Infectious Diseases, BUK who will discuss on the Safeness of Covid19 Vaccines & the Need for Mass Vaccination in Nigeria. Welcome sir.

Thank you very much indeed

Question:

Sir, can we start by knowing how many vaccines we currently have and their efficacy?

Responses:

There are more than 100 candidates’ vaccines at different stages of Clinical trials but so far Nigerian authorities have authorized the use of 6 of them. Of them moderna and Pfizer BioNtech have the best efficacy rates of 95-96% but are more difficult to handle & more expensive.

There are more than 150 Candidate vaccines at different stages of Trials, but so far WHO has approved the use of 6 ready for use.

Question:

Prof @isaabubakar_, how do ordinary people get access to the vaccines in Kano?

Responses:

For now health workers and leaders are being vaccinated. The authorities concerned will roll out plans for other people soon.

Question:

Good afternoon sir, is the Covid19 vaccine safe for people to take, and what are some of the advantages attached to taken the vaccine? #CITADagainstCovid19

Response:

The benefits of taking the vaccines have by far outweigh the risks. The side effects are mild & self-limiting. They include mild fever, feeling of unwell, mild rashes

Question:

Given that the vaccine is limited, how can people be assured they can get it without being subjected to demand for some form of payment by vaccine administration officials? Are there mechanisms for citizens to report this if this occurs?

Responses:

Although it is limited, the vaccination program is a continuous exercise. Govt and partners will do all that is possible to provide adequate amount of vaccines to vaccinate at least 70% of Nigerians within 2 years 2021 & 2022

Question:

So sir, can you tell us the importance of Mass Vaccination?

Response:

Mass vaccination is essential in that it raises the Community level immunity referred to as herd immunity. When about 80-90 % is reached, transmission of the virus may not be possible. The disease may thus be eliminated through the mass immunization strategy

Question:

Sir, there is some argument among the people that why should someone that is being vaccinated still wear facemask. Can you tell us more about this?

Responses:

None of the measures is 100% effective in preventing against the disease. The more measures we take the better until herd immunity is achieved. It is recommended that we continue to wear mask even after vaccination for now. The situation may change in the near future

Question:

As we are coming to the end of this discussion, what advice do you have for citizens to ensure they get vaccinated and what recommendations do you have for Govt to ensure enough vaccines are being provided in the country, sir?

Responses:

Everyone should avail themselves for vaccination as it is the surest way of wiping this disease. The world is now united against the disease and the powerful are helping us to deal with the disease. We do not want a situation where the will succeed and leave us lagging behind

Here we come to the end of this discussion, on behalf of everyone  @ICTAdvocates’s we thanks our guest most sincerely for taking his time to educate us on this important topic. Thank you once again, sir.

REPORT OF A ONE DAY FIELD VISIT TO KUNCHI LOCAL GOVERNMENT ON WATER CHALLENGES SOME COMMUNITIES ARE FACING BY THE CENTRE FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT (CITAD) ON THE 28TH OF MARCH, 2021

INTRODUCTION:

Water is one of the necessity for human lives and it challenges is making life difficult for many people and communities around the globe most especially in developing nations which Nigeria is included. For this reason, the United Nation set aside the 23rd of March of every year to highlights the importance of fresh water.

The day is used to advocate for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. It’s on this note that the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) on the 28th of March, 2021 constituted a media team and paid field visits to some of the communities that are in dare need of water in Kunchi Local Government of Kano State. The objectives of the visit was to:

1. Assess the level of the challenges the communities are facing in terms of accessing water
2. Gather some evidence and data that will be used to advocate to the concerned authorities, Philanthropies and Non-Governmental Organizations to come to the aid of the communities

iii.            Bring the issue to the public notice so that necessary actions will be taken

The team started the visit with Gwalaide village of Gwarmai ward where more than 20 communities depended on a single well that was built for over 35 years by a philanthropy for their source of water. The communities according to the ward head of the Gwalaide village that are using the well are: Dagiri, Limamai, Kargo, Jodade, Gadango, Borin Zare, Madaka, Gwadama, Waire, Santa, Agalawa, Hayin Malamai, Kuku, Gidan Maigari, Gobirawa, Sabuwar Tasha, Tutawa, Jinjimawa, Baje Yola etc. According to the ward head of Gwalaide village, Malam Haruna Mai Unguwa Dan Zubairu these communities are coming to the well every day for over 30 years to get the water they would for their daily activities.

Also in our interview with a 65-year-old resident of the area, Malam Yahuza Muhammadu Yahuza of Kuku community narrated to the team that his community people are in dare need of water. He stated that every day he has to trek for more than 30 minutes and waited on the queue for 8-10 hours before he can get the water his family will use in that particular day. He continued in a cracked voice to mention that because of this problem they have for long stopped their children from going to schools in order for the children to fetch the water the family will use.

Another resident of the area, Malam Abdullahi Mustapha revealed to the team that this water challenge in the area has deprived the people of the communities many things; their children are not being able to go to schools, frequent diseases outbreaks in the area because they are using same water their animals are using and as Muslims, their women are no longer sitting indoors as prescribed by the Holy Qur’an because they have to come out too to help the family in getting the water and most of the times during Ramadan they used to force their children to break their fast in the day time due to the hardship they are facing in fetching the water. Malam Mustapha described the politicians in the area as deceivers and people with empty promises.

However, the team also visited another community in the Local Government, named Kwardagwallen Shuwaki of Shuwaki ward, the community is not more than 22 kilometres from the Local Government Headquarter.

This particular community has only one hand borehole which more than 10 communities relied on for their source of water. According to Malam Muhammad Umar, a resident of the community, thousands of people from the neighboring communities are every day trooping to get their daily water. He noted that the communities are in this difficult situation for a very long time but no one cares to come to their aid.

When he was asked whether they have ever complained to the government, Muhammad Umar said he could not remember how many times they have complained to the authorities but what they received every time is empty promises.

Observations:

1. The communities’ people are finding it difficult to access water
2. Their children are not being able to go to schools

iii.            Frequent disease outbreaks in the areas

1. The communities’ people are using the same water their animals are using
2. As Muslims, their women are no longer sitting indoors as prescribed by the Holy Qur’an because they have to come out too to help the family in getting the water
3. During Ramadan, they used to force their children to break fasting in the day time due to the hardship they are facing in fetching the water

Recommendations:

1. Governments both at local and state levels should provide wells and boreholes in the areas
2. Philanthropies and Non-Governmental Organizations to also help in the massive construction of boreholes and wells in the communities

iii.            Government should build schools in the area

1. Government should construct a road that connects these communities
2. Civil Society Organizations to sensitize the communities’ people on the importance of community contributions