By David Lawani, Abuja
The Honourable Chief Commissioner, Public Complaints Commission, PCC, Hon. Ayo Abimbola Yusuf has commended the National Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, for efforts so far made in ensuring COVID-19 is curtailed by ensuring the public have adequate access to the vaccines.
Chief Yusuf was represented by the Deputy Director of Investigation, Thomas Waya who led a team of investigators in a visit to the headquarters of the NCDC in Abuja during its Systemic and Proactive Investigation into compliance level of the Public and private sector on the safety protocols on COVID-19 said it is quite encouraging to make the visit so as to enable the Commission to keep abreast of what they are doing for public healthy sustainability.
He stressed that the tour doesn’t in any way constitute an investigation into the activities of the NCDC, adding that knowing how the agency operates is very crucial and how best to access some of the information for efficient management of the guidelines.
According to him: ” It would suffice to note that the COVID-19 pandemic has redefined the ways of living in no small measure and the world over has responded accordingly by the adoption of stringent measures to tackling its spread.
“As you may be aware, complaints do arise and can stem from different sources. It is the responsibility of the PCC to investigate and resolve these complaints. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic is also a potential source of complaints and cannot, therefore, be an exception. The Commission serves as a gatekeeper to prevent overload.
“To forestall a plethora of complaints that may arise as a result of abuse, non-compliance or partial compliance with the safety guidelines on Covid-19 by Public and Private sector organizations that the Hon. Chief Commissioner of the Federation, has invoked the powers conferred on him by the provision of section 5(2) of the Public Complaints Commission Act Cap P37 LFN 2004 and has despatched this team to investigate proactively, systemic behaviours of these organizations in their response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
He disclosed that the overall objective is to make appropriate recommendations for policy direction, policy guidance and support as may be appropriate in the circumstances.
Responding to questions on whether the virus can be transmitted through physical contact, the Director of Surveillance and Epidemiology, National Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, Ms Elsie Ilori said she is happy for the visit so that it will assist in explaining some of the misinformation out there in the public.
According to Ilori: ” We learnt that the visit is not about the investigation but to learn what it entails for public and private offices to access safety protocols that NCDC has put in place.
” I want to believe that is what you are here for. You are very welcome. We are always happy to share our experiences and also Protocols with anyone that comes to meet with us. We will listen to you and know exactly what you want. We have lots of Protocols and guidelines on our websites. We will encourage you to check it regularly to see them. And what is responsible for other experiences. So, that we can get acquainted with some of them as it is being put in place by the Federal Government”, he said.
On the question that if the distance is a condition not to contact the virus, she said: ” if not for the distance between us, from one person it can actually infest as many people that are here now. It can be transmitted to another person”.
Explaining the misinformation over if the virus can be cured with herbal medicine, she noted: ” There is no drug anywhere. I mean that there is no drug since the COVID-19 outbreak that can fight it. All that is given are a symptomatic treatment that is available as it were now. So, there is no herbal drug that is available for the treatment of COVID-19″.
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It has also been reported that people with underlining health issues are not supposed to take the vaccines. She offered more clarifications” Our targets are people who are more affected such as the elderly, from age 65 and above. And those that have other underlying health issues.
“So, they should be our targets now. That we want to reach out to them, by all means, to get them vaccinated.
“There is no exemption for nursing mothers or pregnant women. But, you know a lot of things come with pregnancy for women. It is not like an outright exemption. You know if anything comes up, they will say it is the vaccination. But, there is no evidence that vaccines have an impact on pregnancy. Like you know, a pregnant woman that is battling with emotions will be further distracted. Information is still revolving. We are still learning a lot”, she noted.
