The First Lady of Kwara State, Dr (Ambassador) Olufolake Abdulrazaq has flagged off integrated measles and Polio Vaccination in Kwara State.
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Speaking at the event held at Comprehensive Health Centre, Shao in Moro Local Government of Kwara State, The First Lady of Kwara State described polio as a paralyzed disease that has crippled many children and even have killed some across the globe.
She, however, said that through concerted effort the last case of the wild poliovirus so far in Nigeria was 2016, adding that Nigeria was subsequently declared Polio free.
According to her, measles is an acute and highly infectious disease caused by the measles virus stressing that it is one of the leading causes of illnesses and deaths among children under five years of age.
She added that more than 17,000 Measles cases are reported every year in Nigeria with thousands of cases never documented while available data from the year 2000 to 2016 shows that the use of the Measles vaccine has resulted in an 84% reduction in Measles deaths.
“Nigeria as part of the efforts to attain global measles elimination has developed a national measles strategic plan 2018-2028. This plan includes the introduction of the second dose Measles vaccine (MCV2) into our routine immunization” she added.
She therefore urged citizens of Kwara State to avail themselves of the opportunity this round of immunization campaign presents by bringing out their children and wards to benefit from this laudable initiative.
In her weldone address, the Executive Secretary of the state Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Doctor Nusirat Elelu disclosed that the state government will vaccinate about six hundred and one thousand, eight hundred and sixty five children against Measles across the state.
According to her, one million, seven hundred and four thousand, one hundred and twenty six children under five years will be vaccinated against polio with two drop of oral vaccine as well as Vitamin A oral supplementation utilising house to house campaign.
Doctor Elelu therefore enjoined parents, caregivers, and guardians to avail their children under five years irrespective of immunization status for the lives saving intervention.
In their goodwill messages, the Emir of Shonga, Doctor Haliru Yahaya, the Director General, Hospital Management Bureau, representative of World Health Organization, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency commended the State government for according utmost priority to Health Care system in the State.
In his own remarks, the state Commissioner for Health, Doctor Raji Rasaq implored parents to present their children for integrated immunization across the sixteen Local Government Area of the state.
Doctor Raji stated that the vaccines is free and effective against Measles and polio.
Doctor Raji said the state is committed holistically to addressing the Health system in the state through the three tiers of Health institutions, which comprises of primary, secondary and tertiary.
Earlier in his address, the Technical Implementation Committee Chairman of Moro Local Government, Alhaji Isiaka Alkinla, called for synergy between all levels of Health workers in the state to achieve a safe environment free of diseases.
Also in a remark, the Chairman ,Health Committee at the State House of Assembly, Mr Owolabi Rasaq implored the parents and caregivers to cooperate with the health workers in the discharged of their duties
