By joshua 
The Centre for Information Technology and Development CITAD says the country is living with the dangers of Covid19 if the right thing is not done, but expressed optimism that Nigerians have the opportunity to address the fear if citizens make themselves available for Covid19 vaccination.
Mr. Y.Z.Ya’u, Executive Director CITAD gave the charge at a 1-Day Capacity Building workshop for Stakeholders and Civil Society Implementing Partners on the COVID 19 Vaccines, Myths And Misconceptions organized by Challenged Parenthood Initiative in partnership with CITAD and the Kogi State Ministry of Health held at the Reverton Hotel, with the theme: On Covid19 Myths and Misconceptions On Enhancing Demand Creation and Uptake of Covid19 Vaccine Project.
Mr. Ya’u maintained that so far available research has proven that nothing can protect citizens against Covid19 other than the vaccine, said the need to ensure that everyone living in Communities have access or make themselves available to be vaccinated remains the way out of the dangers of Covid19.
Mr Ya’u urged participants the capacity building to make commitment towards promoting safety through the uptake in the intake of Covid19 Vaccines.
While he pointed out that CITAD is working in six States of the Federation expressed worries with the deliberate refusal by citizens to make themselves for the uptake of the Covid19 vaccines.
Mr. Ya’u expressed the commitment of CITAD towards reaching a universal level of vaccination in the country, pointing out that it remains unrelenting, called on citizens to make themselves available for vaccination.
While noting that one of the challenge of tackling the Covid19 scourge, is the availability of Covid19 vaccines, called on Government at all levels to strive towards making the Vaccines available
He described the challenge of mindset as a major challenge, described the vaccine resistance and doubt about the efficacy as a challenge stakeholders must work to address.
He noted the doubt about trust from citizens arising from relevant Government not providing Support during the lockdown, called on the Government and stakeholders to build trust by providing the necessary information on distribution, funding, efficacy, insisting that building trust is critical in changing mindset for people to make themselves available.
He urged participants to drive the messages that will get citizens to be vaccinated as a way of fighting the scourge, described the Covid19 vaccines as safe, and effective.
Mr. Ya’u maintained that if one person is sick of Covid19 in a Community, it goes to show that the whole community is equally not safe, stressed why the sensitization for the uptake of the Vaccines as very much important to stem the fight against the virus.
Earlier in a welcome remarks, Eunice Abimbola Agbogun. Executive Director, Challenged Parenthood Initiative (CPI), said the capacity building stakeholders and Civil Society Implemting Partners aims at enhancing awareness on the efficacy of the Covid19 vaccines and for the stakeholders to mobilize their support to increase demand for uptake of the Vaccines.
The Executive Director equally added that the capacity building for stakeholders aims at looking at the emerging issues in the fight against Covid19 and promote uptake of Covid19 vaccines.
In their goodwill messages, Bishop John Ibenu, Kogi State CAN Chairman, Isah Adeboye, JNI Sec, Olumide Adeyeye, UNICEF, CSO, NOA, the representative of the media and the Traditional Institutions commended the initiative to Sensitize stakeholders, lamented that as effective and efficient as the Covid19 vaccine is, said there is a lot of myths and misconception that needs to addressed.
In a paper presentation on What is Covid19, Epidemiology and Impact on humans, Dr. Bola Emmanuel, described Covid19 as a new normal that requires that people needs to have the adequate and right information.
He described lack of knowledge, fear of side effects, poor reception from health workers, religious beliefs, traditional practices, mistrust and distance to health institutions as barriers to demand for the Vaccines.
Dr. Bola added that irregular vaccine supplies and resources, health workers not opening vials, absence of vaccinators, long wait times as factors affecting the uptake of Covid19 vaccines, called for a redress.
He called for mass media messaging, called for community participation, listed the Appointment of vaccine ambassadors and community members to dessiminate Information.
Towards addressing the barriers, he called for equity, access, prevailing social norms, mistrust, advocated the motivation to health workers.