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On Wednesday, 11th October 2017, the Nigerian Army (NA) described as falsehood and unfounded the trending social media reports of monkeypox vaccination of students in Anambra State and some parts of South East zone in the country.
In a statement signed by Col. Sagir Musa, Deputy Director Public Relations Department, 82 Division Enugu, the NA described the social media publication as “silly and mischievous.”
“The attention of the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to a silly and mischievous publication now trending in the social media.
“The publication alleged that the free medical services given to some communities in the South-East are with a sinister motive of depopulating the region through the so-called monkeypox vaccination.
“The Division wishes to make it clear that the free medical outreach is not a vaccine intended to infect monkeypox or any major contemporary or emerging diseases in Nigeria to the people of South-East or any part of the country.
“The exercise is part of the corporate social responsibility initiatives imbued into the overall Exercise EGWU EKE II package for the people of the South-East region.
“It is the area of responsibility of the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army and is also the Theatre of the Exercise,” Col. Musa disclosed.
He further stated the free medical services in the region started on Sept. 18 in Nkwa-Agu community of Abakaliki Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
“At the event, the Deputy Governor of Ebonyi, the Chairman of the Local Govenrment and some traditional rulers were there at the flag-off of the exercise by the Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen. TY Buratai.”
According to the information officer, other areas where the programme was conducted were Ovim in Isoukwato Local Government Area of Abia State, Mbaise in Imo State, Orji River in Enugu State and now Ozubulo in Anambra.
Col. Musa equally thanked the National Coordinator of Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme in the state for its support during the medical outreach.
However, Rostrum also gathered that schools across the zone had been shut down following rumours of death in the medical outreach.
In Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo, parents in a panic mood were observed taking their children away from primary and secondary schools.
Compiled by: Rostrum
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