Some healthcare facilities situated in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, have been indicted to have sold COVID-19 cards for N15,000 to people without vaccination.
According to a recently-conducted research, a government worker with the Ondo State Government, Akin Niniola (not real name), obtained a vaccination card to beat the government’s deadline to bar unvaccinated civil servants from offices, without undergoing the vaccination process.
With N15,000 paid strictly and secretly in cash, to a health worker, Niniola was given a COVID-19 vaccination card.
The report revealed that Niniola, who does not see a need to take the COVID-19 jab due to trust issue was advised to approach a health centre in Kubwa, where he resides, to obtain a vaccination card if he was ready to pay.
“I don’t have an option. It was since beginning of August 2021 that the news started filtering around that they wanted us to get card to be able to work. Card, where? Must you take vaccine? Must everyone?” Niniola stated in an interview with SaharaReporters.
“I work with the Ondo State government. They now released a circular that any worker without evidence of taking COVID-19 vaccination will not be allowed into the government’s offices as from November 1, 2021.
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“Our state Head of Service gave the directive at a meeting with top civil servants in Akure. That was when everyone started running helter-skelter to get one. Fine, if you want vaccination, go for it. If you don’t, go for the card and pay for it,” he added.
This act is said to be the order of the day in various healthcare centres across the country.
According to findings, although the amount varies, one could purchase a vaccination card at the Primary Healthcare Centre, Kubwa, the Primary Healthcare Centre, Dutse Alhaji; the Primary Healthcare Centre, Bwari Primary Healthcare Centre, Bwari; the Chikakore Clinic, Bwari; the PHC, Dutse Makaranta, and the General Hospital, Kubwa.
Others were; the Gbazango Community Primary Health Center, Kubwa, Abuja; the Primary Health Center Shagari Quarters and the Primary Health Center, Old Deidei – all in the FCT.
This level of corruption is reportedly fuelled by greedy government workers and desperate travellers who were willing to pay compromised government health workers to evade vaccination but get proofs of vaccination.
A health worker in Kubwa who spoke on the topic revealed that government workers are not the only guilty ones as tertiary institutions, people embarking on holy pilgrimage, travellers and a host of others throng the facility to acquire the card.
“University and polytechnic students also come to pay and get the vaccination cards. We get more people who come for vaccination and get their cards, but a few of them don’t want to take the vaccines for their own personal reasons, but we can understand with them and give them the cards. We don’t do it for everybody unless it is extremely important,” Ceceilia, the health worker said.