A member of volunteer vaccination team provides double doses of the oral polio vaccine to a 7 months-old Abdihakim Osman during the national immunization campaign in Hargeisa, Somaliland on 27 March 2019. WHO Photo

Imo state vaccinates 114,000 children through UNICEF immunisation campaign

On Dec 20, 2024

No fewer than 114,102 children have been vaccinated in Imo State, due to an immunisation campaign sponsored by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Dr Chibuzor Okoroama, the state’s Immunisation Officer, made this disclosure in Owerri on Thursday while briefing newsmen on the success of UNICEF’s CatchUp Immunisation campaign.

The four council areas monitored were Njaba, Mbaitoli, Ngor-Okpala, and Owerri North.

Okoroama, a family physician, explained that the 16 council areas covered by the programme represented 65 per cent of the targeted coverage as directed by UNICEF.

She said the additional council areas include Aboh Mbaise, Ezinihitte Mbaise, Ahiazu Mbaise, Isu, Ideato North, Ideato South, Orsu, Oru East, Nkwerre, and Ohaji-Egbema.

According to her, immunisation is the quickest and most effective way to protect children from deadly diseases.

She urged parents to ensure their children were promptly vaccinated.

She explained that during the immunisation process, the team identified zero-dose and under-immunised children, as well as those who had never been vaccinated.

Okoroama highlighted the high cost of vaccines and encouraged parents to take advantage of the free immunisation provided by UNICEF to boost their children’s immunity against diseases.

She expressed satisfaction with the campaign’s success in spite of operational challenges.

“We conducted micro-planning and implementation training at the state, LGA, and ward levels, beginning on December 10, right after receiving funding for the project on December 9.

”We also used the Open Data Kit for real-time transmission of information about supervision, and we are pleased to confirm that we achieved the expected 65 per cent coverage,” Okoroama said.

She thanked local vigilante groups in rural communities and security agencies in the state for providing security to public health officers, especially in troubled areas.

Okoroama also expressed gratitude to UNICEF for the programme and reiterated the state government’s commitment to provide basic healthcare to Imo residents.

NAN/Wumi