Bamidele Abiodun, first lady and Wife of Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun state has said that all-year round polio vaccinations being administered on children of ages 0-5 across the 20 local government areas of the state has been an efficacious repellent against polio virus in the last ten years.
Speaking at flag-off ceremony of the First Round 2020 National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs), held at the Family Health Centre, Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta on Friday, Abiodun noted that the combined efforts of government and stakeholders have been helpful to the fight against polio virus, saying the present administration is committed to eradicating transmission of the wild and circulating vaccine derived polio virus among children.
While pledging optimal healthcare services for all residents of the state on behalf of State government, the Wife of the Governor explained that sound healthcare delivery could be achieved through regular health intervention programmes and campaigns on good hygiene, eco-friendly atmosphere, good eating habit and balanced diet as well as compliance with professional advice on expected healthy living.
“Our dear State in the last ten years has not recorded any wild or circulating vaccine derived polio virus at all. To consolidate on the gains achieved, last year, the year 2020 first round will be conducted in the State”, she said.
Tomi Coker, commissioner for Health, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Adesanya Ayinde, advised mothers and caregivers to avail their children and wards the opportunity of the exercise, noting that it would go a long way at ensuring that the State remained polio free.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Primary Health Care Development Board, Elijah Ogunsola, said that children, ages 0-59 months would be vaccinated with two drops of the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV), adding that the vaccines were safe and potent.
In their separate goodwill messages, the representatives, World Health Organization, Sunday Abidoye; Rotary International, Festus Adetonwa; Africa Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), Samuel Abbott; United Nations Children Emergency Fund, Florence Molokwu and the State Coordinator, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Olatunde Adebiyi, commended the State Government for the exercise, enjoining mothers and caregivers to inform others in their various communities to bring their children and wards for vaccination.
Earlier, Chairman Transition Committee, Abeokuta South Local Government, Ayodeji Somide, appreciated the present administration for the various health programmes and interventions, which he said, were focused on improving the wellbeing of children.
Speaking on behalf of mothers, Olusola Anuoluwapo and Mojirade Hafeez, gave kudos to the State Government for making the health of children paramount in its agenda.
RAZAQ AYINLA, Abeokuta
