Health Experts have called for increased uptake of routine immunization and nutrition among Children.
They advised Mothers to take immunization seriously, saying without vaccines, infants are at risk of becoming ill or even dying from childhood diseases such as measles and whooping cough, among others.
They made the call in Lagos at an event organised by the National Orientation Agency, NOA, Lagos State Directorate in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF.
The UNICEF Social Behavioral Specialist, Mrs Aderonke Akinola-Akinwole said the meeting aims to reiterate the importance of routine immunization and identify some of the bottlenecks affecting its uptake, looking at the household behaviour that promotes healthy living within 1000 days of a child as well as improving child survival rate.
She said; “Increasing a child’s survival focuses on the first 1000 days which starts from conception to the child’s second birthday. So I encourage parents to adhere strictly to antenatal care, have their babies delivered by skilled birth attendants, good nutrition for both mother and child with emphasis on exclusive breastfeeding where the mother gives only breast milk to the child for at least six months from birth.
“Also growth monitoring, to ensure the child is growing well with age, basic hygiene practices to prevent infectious diseases of both mother and child and birth registration which is vital in a child’s life. The first 1000 days is a golden opportunity to give a child a healthy living.”
Routine immunization
The Lagos State Immunization Officer at the Ministry of Health, Mrs Taiwo Unorah encouraged Mothers to ensure that their children complete the Immunization doses from birth.
“Immunization is very important in a child’s life and also to the mother,” she stressed.
Immunization protects a child from vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, diphtheria, hepatitis and so on.
Mrs Unorah further stated that parents should comply strictly with routine immunization schedules to give a child full protection from all forms of infectious diseases.
The event brought together Health professionals and other major stakeholders in the health sector.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
