By Bukola Bardi

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has urged health sector stakeholders to join forces with his administration in eliminating vaccine-preventable diseases across the state.

The governor made this appeal during the official launch of the 2025 National Immunisation Plus Days at the Mother and Child Hospital, Oke-Aro, Akure, emphasising the critical need for collective action to safeguard public health.

Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Dr Taiwo Fashoranti, the governor noted that Ondo State had been adjudged one of the high-performing states in polio eradication and was determined to maintain the status.

Governor Aiyedatiwa called on mothers and caregivers to present children from ages zero to five years for vaccination during the immunisation programme which kicks off tomorrow.

In a remark, the Permanent Secretary, Ondo State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Francis Akanbiemu also charged mothers to cooperate fully with health workers as they move round houses, markets, churches, and other places with a significant number of children.

The Director, Disease Control and Immunisation in the agency, Dr Victor Adefesoye explained that children would be administered with oral polio vaccine, Vitamin A and other antigens as part of routine immunisation for children under five.

Two mothers, Mrs Kehinde Faleye and Mrs Faith James, expressed gratitude to the government and other stakeholders for securing a healthy life for their children through regular vaccination against childhood diseases. 

The National Immunisation Plus Days programme begins on Saturday in Ondo State and is expected to end on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, after which a mop-up exercise will also take place.

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