FG INTRODUCES NEW YELLOW CARD

From September this year, the Yellow cards currently in use and in circulation in the country, would be withdrawn, following the introduction of a new one.

The  Minister of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu who disclosed this yesterday in Abuja at the launch of the International Certificate of Vaccination,otherwise known as Yellow card, said that the implementation of the initiative was one of the recommendations of the 55th National Council  of Health (NCH) meeting held last year.

He said, “you may wish to recall that one of the key resolutions approved by the 55th  NCH was for the Federal Ministry of Health to proceed with the introduction of the new Yellow  card which should have new and advanced security features”

The minister disclosed that the reason for the change was as a result of the circulation of versions of the card and the need to ensure more stringent control on its distribution and accessibility.

He also disclosed that the federal government in collaboration with states and local government would commence mass vaccination of Nigerians in May this year starting with states at high risks including border states.

According to Chukwu, this measure is to ensure that Nigerians are well-protected.

Earlier in her remarks, the Permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Mrs Fatimah Bamidele, noted that that the introduction of the new card  which has six security features, will put an end to  the issue of fake Yellow cards issued from multiple sources.

She added that in an effort to promptly detect, control and prevent the scourge of flood disasters in the country, a task force on flood disaster with specific mandate for health intervention has been set up.

The Perm Sec said the ongoing pre-NCH meeting would discuss four key issues, namely implementation status of the resolutions of the last NCH, launch of the new Yellow card, response of states and federal government to disease outbreak during the 2012 flood disaster and preparation for the 56th NCH.

The Director, Public Health in the Federal Ministry of Health, Dr Bridget Okoeguale  noted in her presentation  that the Nigeria-South Africa dispute further stimulated the urgent need to strengthen the centralization of the Yellow card.

She disclosed that there would be an upward review of the card from N500 to N1,000.

Source: Leadership