The Anambra State Government has said it will flag off its second phase of the oral polio vaccination campaign as well as the outbreak response on Friday, targeting over 2.6 million children under the age of 0-59 months across the 21 Local Government Areas of the state.
State Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Ben Obidike, disclosed this during a chat with newsmen at his office to commence the exercise.
He told the public that the vaccination is free of charge.
The Commissioner enjoined all nursing mothers and guardians to make their children and wards available for the free gesture at any primary healthcare facility nearest to them.
He said, “We are responding to the outbreak of the polio virus in a neighbouring town, Nkanu West, in Enugu State.
“We have not recorded any cases in Anambra, but the natural thing to do is to increase our vaccinations to prevent their spread to the state.
“Again, we want to encourage mothers and guardians to ensure their children and wards are vaccinated. It is a free, safe, and effective oral vaccine, and there is nothing to worry about.
“We have put in place a quality assurance team in case of any complications, and they will be handled appropriately.
“We have also mobilised 660 fixed posts across the state, and we hope to reach and vaccinate about 2.64 million children to reduce the risk of polio spread in the state.”.
“We will go all out to churches, mosques, schools, and the nooks and crannies of the state to look for children and get them vaccinated.
“We also want to appeal to the media to help us inform the public about the exercise and other health achievements we have recorded so far in the less than two-year administration of Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo in the state.
“He reiterated that the state government is doing this free of charge.
Remarking, Mrs. Chisom Uchem, Executive Secretary, Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Mrs Chisom Uchem, disclosed that the vaccination would start on Friday, November 10 and end on November 14 in all the LGAs of the state.
The ASPHCDA boss stressed that the campaign will be monitored by improved independent monitors and LQAS surveyors to ensure quality and coverage.”
“The campaign was implemented by the Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency (ASPHCDA) in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and SYDANI Initiative for International Development
State Coordinator, WHO, Dr Adamu Abdul-Nasir, expressed gratitude to the state government for its political will and proactive measures in preventing the polio virus from spreading to the state
The programme, themed, ‘KEEP POLIO AT ZERO’, will officially flag off at Primary Health Centre Umueze-Anam in Anambra West Local Government Area of Anambra State.
