Ogun flags off Polio Outbreak Response

Ogun State Government says there is need for sustained efforts towards the eradication of the wild polio virus and other variants in the country.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker stated this during the flag-off ceremony for the second round of Polio Outbreak Response, OBR 2, at Ikenne Primary Health Care, Ikenne Local Government.

Dr Coker who noted that 1 point 7 million children were vaccinated in the first phase of the exercise in the state said over 270 million dose of vaccines were administered yearly in the country in an efforts to sustain the polio-free status.

Noting that the present administration remained resolute to the wellness of the people in the State, the health commissioner highlighted some of the achievements in the health sector to include, continuous provision of running costs to health facilities, enrollment of over 50,000 pregnant women and children on the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, recruitment of nurses, midwives and doctors in the Primary Health Centres, among others.

Also, the Executive Secretary, Primary Health Care Development Board, Dr. Elijah Ogunsola explained that the OBR exercise would commence on Saturday, January 21 to Tuesday 24, 2023, adding that the process would involve house-to-house oral polio vaccination for children of ages 0-59 months, routine immunisation for children 0-2 years at health facilities, as well as health education on key household practices, advising mothers to ensure that their eligible children and wards partake in the four-day programme.

In their separate messages, the Senior Field Coordinator, AFENET, Dr. Suleiman Haladu, the representative, United Nation Children Emergency Fund, UNICEF, Mrs. Florence Moloku and her counterpart from the National Primary health Care Development Agency, Tashikalma Hallah commended the State government for the priority given to the health of the children, which had made it to record significant success in the eradication of the polio virus, advising that the government should not relent in strengthening its borders, maintain surveillance system to report cases, fortify the nomadic communities, as well as its Routine Immunisation programme, to prevent possible importation of the virus.

Speaking on behalf of other mothers at the event, Mrs. Tracy Agu and Modinat Yinusa appreciated the government for all the numerous health interventions provided for the comfort of residents, promising to ensure that their eligible children partake in the exercise.

Olusegun Folarin