• Thursday, March 28, 2024
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Kwara Gov inaugurates task force on immunisation

immunisation

Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, Kwara State Governor, on Friday inaugurated the State Task Force on immunisation and primary healthcare, saying the exercise forms a part of his administration’s efforts to stamp out polio and strengthen access to primary healthcare.

According to a statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Rafiu Ajakaye, Abdulrazaq while speaking at the inauguration of the Task Force headed by Kayode Alabi, the state deputy governor, explained that “The presence of an active State Task Force on Immunisation is a prerequisite for quality polio campaigns and routine immunisation services. The role of the Task Force amongst others is to coordinate and supervise all Polio Eradication Initiatives (PEI) activities in particular and Primary Health Care in general in line with recommendations from the State Technical Team.”

“It is also to be noted that one of the requirements for the full implementation of Primary Health Care Under One Roof (PHCUOR) in the State is the functionality of the State Task Force especially with the prevailing outbreak of vaccine-preventable poliomyelitis in the State.”

The governor urged members of the Task Force to work closely with Alabi to deliver quality primary healthcare to the people of Kwara.

Alabi, in his response commended the Governor for his leadership which has raised the quality and depth of healthcare services available to Kwarans.

He says: “We appreciate your Excellency for the trust reposed in us and we pledge to work very hard to fulfil the expectations of our people to improve healthcare services so that Kwara can regain its leadership position in the scheme of things.”

Rhoda Ajiboye, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health, says the inauguration was in line with the Abuja Commitment by all the state governments to support polio eradication and routine immunisation in the country.

“This Task Force will provide political support and mobilise necessary resources for the implementation of both routine and supplemental immunisation activities in the state,” she said.

Abdulrazaq had recently paid counterpart funds to strengthen polio immunisation in the state following the outbreak in January 2019 of some vaccine-derived polio cases.

He had also recently paid counterpart funds to facilitate free malaria treatment, nutrition, and other basic healthcare services.

Membership of the Task Force include the Deputy Governor (Chairman); Chairman House Committee on Health; Representative of the Wife of the Governor; Representatives of the Ministry of Health; Ministry of Finance; Ministry of Information; Ministry of Environment; Executive Secretary of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency (SPHCDA); Directors of the SPHCDA; State Immunisation Officer; Chairman of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON); Representative of Ministry of Women Affairs; Representative of Ministry of Education; and representatives’ police, army, artisans, civil society organisations and religious bodies, among others.

 

SIKIRAT SHEHU, Ilorin