ASABA/Nigeria: Delta State Primary Health Care Development Agency (DSPHCDA), says it is ready for the second round of the National Immunization Plus Days holding from today, 30th June to Tuesday 3rd July 2018 across the state
The Chairman, DSPHCDA, Dr Isioma Okobah speaking to pressmen in Asaba on the preparation of the Agency for the exercise, said training for health workers and specialised team involved in the programme was held weeks ago, to ensure a total success of the exercise in the state.
Dr Okobah disclosed that within four days, a team of trained immunization personnel would be moving from house-to-house, visiting schools, religious houses and venues of social events to ensure that all eligible children between 0-59 months are vaccinated from 30th of June to 4th of July 2018, with a view to interrupt the circulation of polio virus.
“Even though success was recorded in the first round, we can still do better. We are close to the goal and we need to stay focused, push through and win this fight, for the Nigerian child. Together we have a role and responsibility to ensure that not any one child is missed in any Ward and that every child is immunized by the vaccination team”. She said.
She further clarified issues raised on the panic by parents about the additional immunization, by urging parents not to be worried about the many rounds of immunization affirming that it was important that children got repeated immunization to fully protect them against polio.
“To stop polio in Nigeria, We must build a wall of immunity against polio to fully protect the Nigerian child from the polio virus and this can only be achieved through multiple doses of oral polio vaccines. This supplementary immunization is meant to complement routine immunization and not to replace it, hence every mother is advised to complete the child’s routine immunization schedule”. She advised.
The agency’s chairman further charged the health workers not to relent in their efforts. While reaffirming that community involvement in healthcare was widely seen as essential to attaining high quality care,
Dr Okobah commended the partners and also urged religious leaders, civil society organisations and the media to play a role in ensuring that children under five years were duly vaccinated which according to her was in line with the Health For All Deltans Policy of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s SMART agenda.
Present at the press briefing was the Director, Community Development, Social Mobilization and Advocacy, Dr Onojeta Francis, The Director Immunization and Disease Control, Dr Yinkore Paul, Director Administration, Mr Itobore Onoriode, the zonal director WHO, State Coordinator, WHO, Dr Onyinye Emefiele, UNICEF Rivers Field Medical Specialist Dr Eghe Abe.
