Amid reports of countries around the world relaxing COVID-19 restrictions, Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, has sounded a note of caution to Nigerians, warning that the threat of the pandemic still looms high.
The warning was given during a panel discussion by leading health maintenance firm, Avon Healthcare Limited (Avon HMO), at the maiden Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce Conference and Exhibition in Lagos.
Moderated by the company’s CEO, Adesimbo Ukiri, the panel was an assembly of leading healthcare experts brought together to discuss the topic: “Healthcare in Nigeria – Beyond the Crisis.”
Also with the commissioner are the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa; Medical Director/CEO, First Cardiology Consultants, Dr. Adeyemi Johnson and Founder/CEO of Doctoora, Debo Odulana, to offer their perspectives on what lies ahead for the country’s health sector, two years after the pandemic was first discovered in Nigeria.
On whether Nigeria could toe the line of countries like the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Indonesia and others, Abayomi said the low rate of vaccination in the country remains a cause for concern.
“The countries you are referring to are close to, or already 100 per cent vaccinated. Some are over a 100 per cent vaccinated with boosters, while some are even going into double boosters. We have five per cent of our population vaccinated. Unless there is some genetic protection, Nigeria and Africa remain the opportunity for the virus to do what it knows how to do best.”
The commissioner, however, acknowledged that while the crisis phase of the pandemic might have been be over, the state of healthcare in the country necessitates continued vigilance to prevent surges in infections, even as things go back to normal.
