The Mercy Corps in partnership with Yobe State Ministry of Information (YOMI) has trained information managers on seamless access to Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines in the state.
The two-day media training was to “educate and equip” media professionals on how to access COVID-19 jabs in communities.
Addressing the trainees, yesterday (Thursday), in Damaturu, the state capital, Mercy Corps’ Communication Specialists, Grace Oguntade, disclosed that; “The training will enable the information managers bridge the gaps of accessing COVID-19 vaccines across the state.”
According to her, there will an increased confidence and acceptability of the jabs by the people.
Declaring the training open, the Commissioner of Information, Mohammed Lamin, represented by the Director of Information and Services, Husnah Ibrahim said: “Journalists are the voices of the people to work and fight against COVID-19 pandemic that claimed many lives.”
According to her, the information managers and journalists are to sensitize and educate the general public on seamless access to the jabs.
She said that the trainees are drawn from the print, electronic, new media and the organised public sector (OPS) in the state.
The Social Behavioral Change Communication (SBCC), Programme Manager, Sabiu Shehu, added that the two-day media workshop; was to train public information officers, journalists and social media influencers on misinformation about the access to COVID-19 vaccines in the state.
She said that the social mobilization technical committee in the Ministry of Information is to engage community and religious leaders to sensitize their people on COVID-19 and access to vaccine.
Besides, she added that the State government will continue to partner with development partners on the seamless access to vaccines for protection of people’s lives.
“Governor Mai Mala Buni is fully committed and determined to support health care initiatives and projects in the state,” she said.
