COVID-19 VACCINATION: CP EGBETOKUN DEBUNKS ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES AT FALOMO POLICE HOSPITAL
By Trek Africa Newspaper
CP Kayode Egbetokun
The Police Hospital, Falomo has debunks a report by Arise TV over the weekend accusing the Police Hospital, Falomo, of perpetrating illegalities and corrupt practices with the help of touts in the administration of the COVID-19 vaccines to residents.
A statement signed by CP Kayode Egbetokun noted that the media station did not carry out due diligence in their investigation before going on air.
The report alleged corrupt practices against members of the vaccination team at the hospital, saying that touts were hanging around the hospital to facilitate the illegal acts
However, the Police say an investigation instituted by the hospital authority revealed the following:
I. There is a private approach road leading to the Police hospital. This private approach road is clean and clear of human traffic. Touts cannot hang around the facility as alleged.
2. The pink background shown in the video is obviously not Falomo Police Hospital. The walls of the hospital are painted white.
3. On Monday 15/03/21, the first day of vaccination, there was a low turn out at the center.
4. On Wednesday 17/03/21, the center started to witness a surge.
5. Expatriates who are frontline workers without any exemption or discrimination are qualified for vaccination in this phase. Majority of them residing in Ikoyi and surroundings find the Falomo center attractive due to proximity and security considerations.
6. Some persons who do not fall in this phase of vaccination accused the frontline workers of jumping the queue whereas they are the ones jumping phases.
The statement reminded the public that the hospital has maintained absolute decorum and stayed within the limits of strict guidelines and protocols as specified by the government since the exercise started.
“We were looking forward to making the Police Hospital, Falomo a model center in this exercise. We acknowledge that only the innocent and those who do the right thing get wrongly accused. We are also aware that wrong accusations in this environment stick more easily if made against the Police. Let it therefore be known that the Falomo center is only located within the police health facility; members of the vaccination team, the coordinators, the supervisors and the organisers are not of the police, in case this is the thinking that is bringing the allegation of money exchanging hands,” the statement noted.
It further revealed that: “The responsibility of the police in this exercise is to provide the needed support to ensure smooth conduct of the vaccination, especially at centers located within our facilities.
“There has not been any material evidence, not even the least of it to substantiate this wild allegation other than the mere suspicion or imagination of the maker.
“The faceless individual is advised to come forward to substantiate the allegation with evidence if he/she has any. The choice of a media house to lodge a criminal complaint rather than the concerned relevant authorities says much about the intention behind the story.
“The airing of an unsubstantiated report that is capable of smearing the police health facility being used as center and which brings discredit to the genuine efforts of the government in this exercise is also unacceptable.”
