KWSG TO COMMENCE NOVEMBER POLIO IMMUNIZATION CAMPAIGN
…Targets over 1,527,859 under 5 children.
The Kwara State Government through the Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency will commence November round of year 2024 Outbreak Response (OBR) to circulating Mutant Variant of Polio Immunization campaign to boost the immunity of over 1,527,859 children less than five years.
The campaign is expected to cover all the nooks and crannies of the state, beginning from Saturday, 30th to Tuesday, 3rd December, 2024.
The Executive Secretary, Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency (KWSPHCDA), Dr. Nusirat Elelu, disclosed this recently during the OBR planning meeting to ascertain the state’s level of preparedness for the campaign.
Dr. Elelu explained that poliomyelitis (polio) is a highly infectious viral disease that largely affects children under 5 years of age, noting that the virus can be transmitted through the fecal-oral route or less frequently, by contaminated water or food and the virus multiplies in the intestine from where it can invade the nervous system and cause irreversible paralysis.
The Executive Secretary said that children aged 0-5 years are expected to be vaccinated irrespective of their previous vaccination status, stressing that the vaccine is safe, efficacious, and does not have overdose.
Dr. Elelu called on all parents, caregivers, religious houses, schools, and Quranic institutions to make eligible children available for vaccination as the teams move from house to house and move to markets, religious houses and schools.
She emphasized that although Nigeria has been certified as polio free, there is however the need to sustain the gains by ensuring that the most at risk group is protected by boosting population immunity of eligible children through supplementary and routine immunization activities such as this exercise.
The Executive Secretary also stated that the state government has continued to partner with development partners such as World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), to sustain the immune system of the citizens.
Dr. Elelu appreciated the commitment of all development partners and health workers, who participated in the first round of the campaign, seeking their improved dedication in the upcoming campaign.
The Executive Secretary commended the unwavering support and financial commitment of the Governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, for prioritizing the health of Kwarans by ensuring that quality health care services are available and affordable in government owned facilities across Kwara state.
*Alade Opeyemi,*
Press Secretary,
KWSPHCDA.
08038133813
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