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Following the phasing out of the old International Certificate of Vaccination and Prophylaxis, otherwise known as Yellow Card, to give way to an improved version with advanced security features which took effect July 1st, 2019, most Nigerian travellers are finding it extremely difficult to procure the new version.
The Yellow Card is a document that authenticates that the holder has received a yellow fever vaccine and the law stipulates that all international travellers must be vaccinated against yellow fever at least 10 days before the expected date of travel.
LEADERSHIP Sunday’s investigation revealed that travellers who are in need of the new version of the cards are under pressure to procure the document.
A visit to the Port Health Service (PHS) office at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, revealed that applicants for the Yellow Card now report to the office as early as 4am to increase their chances of getting service.
According to a source at the Port Health Service (PHS) office at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, applicants for the new cards come as early as possible to ensure that they fall within the limit of 100 applicants which is the maximum that the office processes daily.
Narrating his experience, an applicant, John Osakwe, told LEADESHIP Sunday on Thursday that he had been coming to the MMIA office since Monday to get the new Yellow Card.
“I have been coming here since the 1st of July, 2019 being Monday; today is 4th, and I have been asked to come and collect it anytime tomorrow. I think the Port officials are trying but they need to do more because a lot of people need the cards now. I hope I get mine tomorrow,” Osakwe said.
Another applicant who identified herself as Mary said: “I was here on Wednesday; unfortunately, I didn’t know I had to come before 7am. However, they asked me to pay. I paid and I was issued a computer printout of my application. Today, I have come and they have collected my signed printout and they have given me the vaccination. Their “oga” has told me to come and pick it up anytime tomorrow being Friday”.
Further investigations by LEADERSHIP Sunday show that it takes 48 hours for applicants, who come as early as 6am-7am on the first day, to procure the new Yellow Card. It takes three days for those who come after 7am to get theirs.
According to our findings, the process is such that applicants are meant to pay online first, go home with their printout receipt because they may have fallen out of the daily limit of PHS for that day. They are to return with the payment receipt the following day and submit it. Once submitted, they are then asked to come and collect it the following day. Those travelling who have evidence of their journey are given consideration.
Addressing the crowd at MMIA on July 4, 2019, the Head, Port Services, Ministry of Health, Morenike Alex-Okoh, said concession is given to those who have evidence that they are actually travelling.
“If you are changing from old one to new one, it is the same process. As soon as your number is called, you are on the queue; there is no need for vaccination. We will collect your paper from you, sight your old card and will tell you to leave. As soon as you are vaccinated, please vacate the premises for others. This room cannot accommodate 120 people at a time and that is why you have to move out. You did not come with any illness and we don’t want you to go back with another sickness,“ Mrs. Alex-Okoh said.
An official receipt for the payment of Yellow Card made on Thursday and sighted by LEADERSHIP Sunday at the MMIA health centre indicates that one card costs N2, 000, with a service charge of N157, 50 kobo. This payment is done by generating Remita Retrieval Reference (RRR) before paying online or at the bank.
A few of the applicants made use of a nearby business centre which is located outside the PHS office at MMIA for their online registration but while addressing the crowd, Mrs. Alex-Okoh warned all applicants not to make any additional payments since they had already made the required payments at the point of registering online.
She said there are four other issuing centres in Lagos and that once one registers online, that person can always pick up the processed Yellow Cards at port health offices, airports, borders or the ministry in any part of the country.
Meanwhile, the Federal Ministry of Health had, before now, continuously warned that Nigeria will phase out the old Yellow Card, announcing that the card would no longer be acceptable from July 1.
Similarly, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends vaccination against yellow fever for all international travellers nine months of age and older before they come to Nigeria due to persistent or periodic yellow fever virus transmission in the country. (Leadership NG)
The Yellow Card is a document that authenticates that the holder has received a yellow fever vaccine and the law stipulates that all international travellers must be vaccinated against yellow fever at least 10 days before the expected date of travel.
LEADERSHIP Sunday’s investigation revealed that travellers who are in need of the new version of the cards are under pressure to procure the document.
A visit to the Port Health Service (PHS) office at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, revealed that applicants for the Yellow Card now report to the office as early as 4am to increase their chances of getting service.
According to a source at the Port Health Service (PHS) office at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, applicants for the new cards come as early as possible to ensure that they fall within the limit of 100 applicants which is the maximum that the office processes daily.
Narrating his experience, an applicant, John Osakwe, told LEADESHIP Sunday on Thursday that he had been coming to the MMIA office since Monday to get the new Yellow Card.
“I have been coming here since the 1st of July, 2019 being Monday; today is 4th, and I have been asked to come and collect it anytime tomorrow. I think the Port officials are trying but they need to do more because a lot of people need the cards now. I hope I get mine tomorrow,” Osakwe said.
Another applicant who identified herself as Mary said: “I was here on Wednesday; unfortunately, I didn’t know I had to come before 7am. However, they asked me to pay. I paid and I was issued a computer printout of my application. Today, I have come and they have collected my signed printout and they have given me the vaccination. Their “oga” has told me to come and pick it up anytime tomorrow being Friday”.
Further investigations by LEADERSHIP Sunday show that it takes 48 hours for applicants, who come as early as 6am-7am on the first day, to procure the new Yellow Card. It takes three days for those who come after 7am to get theirs.
According to our findings, the process is such that applicants are meant to pay online first, go home with their printout receipt because they may have fallen out of the daily limit of PHS for that day. They are to return with the payment receipt the following day and submit it. Once submitted, they are then asked to come and collect it the following day. Those travelling who have evidence of their journey are given consideration.
Addressing the crowd at MMIA on July 4, 2019, the Head, Port Services, Ministry of Health, Morenike Alex-Okoh, said concession is given to those who have evidence that they are actually travelling.
“If you are changing from old one to new one, it is the same process. As soon as your number is called, you are on the queue; there is no need for vaccination. We will collect your paper from you, sight your old card and will tell you to leave. As soon as you are vaccinated, please vacate the premises for others. This room cannot accommodate 120 people at a time and that is why you have to move out. You did not come with any illness and we don’t want you to go back with another sickness,“ Mrs. Alex-Okoh said.
An official receipt for the payment of Yellow Card made on Thursday and sighted by LEADERSHIP Sunday at the MMIA health centre indicates that one card costs N2, 000, with a service charge of N157, 50 kobo. This payment is done by generating Remita Retrieval Reference (RRR) before paying online or at the bank.
A few of the applicants made use of a nearby business centre which is located outside the PHS office at MMIA for their online registration but while addressing the crowd, Mrs. Alex-Okoh warned all applicants not to make any additional payments since they had already made the required payments at the point of registering online.
She said there are four other issuing centres in Lagos and that once one registers online, that person can always pick up the processed Yellow Cards at port health offices, airports, borders or the ministry in any part of the country.
Meanwhile, the Federal Ministry of Health had, before now, continuously warned that Nigeria will phase out the old Yellow Card, announcing that the card would no longer be acceptable from July 1.
Similarly, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends vaccination against yellow fever for all international travellers nine months of age and older before they come to Nigeria due to persistent or periodic yellow fever virus transmission in the country. (Leadership NG)
