…..Tasked parents to Immunize children
The wife of the Governor of Lagos State, Mrs Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, has flag-off the 2022 Integrated Muscles Vaccination Campaign for the period of eight weeks across Local Council’s in Lagos.
Mrs Sanwo-Olu, who is also a medical doctor, spoke at the Headquarters of Kosofe Local Government, Lagos, during the ‘flagoff ceremony of year 2022 integrated measles Campaign on Lagos Thursday.
She noted that the campaign was done every three years and it was recommended by the World Health Organisation and National Primary Healthcare Agency as one of the main strategies to eliminate the virus.
The first lady noted that the campaign would commence on Friday and end on July 4, reminding the people of Lagos that the muscles was highly contagious and vaccine preventable.
Sanwo-Olu noted that the campaign would be conducted for eight days to maximise their resources and to ensure they reach all the eligible four million children population during this period.
“The first stream is between June 17 to June 24 and the local government that are in this category are the Agege, Alimosho, Amuwo-Odofin, Badagry, Ibeju, Kosofe, Lagos Mainland, Lagos Island and Surulere.
“The second phase will start from the June 27 and run to July 4, while Apapa, Epe, Eti-Osa, Ifako-Ijaiye, Ikeja, Ikorodu, Mushin, Oshodi-Isolo, Ojo and Shomolu.
“A total of 8,100 vaccination teams will be available per stream across the 57 LGAs and LCDAs in the state,” she said.
Sanwo-Olu noted that the most of these children get these illness from other children that have high fever, cough, running nose, redness of the eyes.
According to her, sometimes parents leave their babies at the daycare Centre, they played with one another and get contacted with these infections.
The first lady, however, said prevention is better than cure so if they had another opportunity to receive this vaccine free of charge then why not.
Speaking, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said this campaign would be integrated with other services to improve efficiency and effectiveness especially at the primary healthcare level.
Abayomi, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Segun Ogboye added that parents and caregivers could access multiple services at the same time.
The commissioner noted that Muscles vaccine, vitamin A and polio vaccine would be given to the children free of charge.
“The muscles vaccines is for nine months to 59 months, the vitamin A is for six months to five years while the oral Polio is for zero to five years. Other immunization services will also be available from birth to 23 months.
“The teams will be providing the service mentioned above: Muscles Vaccination, Vitamins A Supplement, Routine immunization and Covid-19 vaccination.
“They will be available at both public and private hospitals, schools, clinics, religious houses, houses of influential community leaders all in a bid to reach the eligible population and achieve a 100 per cent coverage.
The commissioner said in Lagos State, there were 22 million population and still counting adding that the Integrative, Innovative and Impact (III) approach would be adopted.
He said with this approach the state would be recruiting 30,000 health workers to help them immunise the over four million children in the state.
Also, the Word Health Organization Team Lead, Lagos Office, Dr Ahmed Kadiri said the United Nations promotes the well-being of individuals and this campaign was to support Nigeria in her universal health coverage.
Kadiri said he was optimistic that the campaign team would deliver a good job in vaccinating the targeted children.
In his speech, the Chief of Health, United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Dr Edward Blanko, noted that the campaign was the first if its kind because muscles, polio, COVID-19, vitamins A were integrated together.
Blanko explained that the campaign was bringing efficiency and a new way of eliminating the virus in the country.
According to him, the campaign will bring impact, which will target four million children from zero to five years old.
He said 4.7 million children are expected to get vaccinated against polio and more than 1.7 million are expected to get the COVID-19 vaccination.
Earlier in his Welcome address, the Executive Chairman, Kosofe Local Government, Mr Moyosore Ogunlewe implore all the CDCs, CDAs to take advantage of this campaign and inform their communities on the usefulness for the children to take the vaccines.
Ogunlewe noted that in less than a year, he had been able to provide a new ambulance and launched a programme called Kosofe Cares for six years and above.
He said his administration had deworm pupils in all primary schools, and he had partnered with Access Bank to build a new health center in Oworoshoki which will be launched soon.
The Kosofe reports that Agboy Ketu LCDA Chairman, Mr Dele Oshinowo, IKosi-Isheri LCDA Chairman, Mrs Samiat Bada, Nigeria Red Cross Representatives, Traditional leaders, Religious leaders, market women among others attended the flag-off ceremony.
