POLIO ERADICATION: IMPRESSIVE TURN OUT AS NATIONAL IMMUNISATION PLUS DAYS KICKS OFF IN ONDO 30-09-23
By Sadiq Aminu Health workers under the Ondo state primary healthcare development agency on Saturday thronged many homes in Akure, the capital city to vaccinate children under 5yrs as another round of immunisation plus days kicked off in the state.
The workers who adorned yellow-colour apron with the inscription “END POLIO NOW” were seen with different sizes of Cold boxes in areas such as Arakale, Okejebu, Shagari village, Oda Town, Oke-aro, Ajipowo, Fanibi, Adofure among others, going from one house to another to administer oral polio vaccine and vitamin A supplement on children.
They were also sighted at the popular erekesan and Nepa markets alongside some members of the State Rapid response team on immunisation, encouraging mothers to bring out their children for the vaccination.
At Gaga community, the chief Imam, Alhaji Yusuf Agbesinga led health workers to homes in the area especially the fulani camp where some mothers hid their children from being immunised against polio.
Two mothers whose children were vaccinated at the popular Nepa market Mrs Ajike Ojo and Eunice Alege thanked government for ensuring that no child is down with polio in Ondo state.
While assessing the exercise on the first day, a member of the state mobilisation committee on immunisation, Chief (Mrs) Kemi Adedapo-Aisida who also monitored the vaccination said the turn out of mothers was impressive but expressed the hope that more personnel would be mobilised for the exercise as it progresses.
The National immunisation plus days which kicked off today will end on Thursday, next week.
Meanwhile, the permanent secretary, ondo state primary healthcare board, Dr Francis Akanbiemu has enjoined parents and caregivers to make their children as well as wards available for the vaccination.