By Uzo Ugwunze
The Idemili North Health Authority, Anambra State Primary Health Development Agency (ASPHCDA) in collaboration with State Ministry of Health and Partners has flagged off the first round National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs) against Circulating Variant Polio virus Type 2 (CVPV2) infection at Oye-Uzoigwe Health Center, Nsukwu Abatete.
Speaking during the flag off, the HOD/Director Idemili North Health Authority, Mrs Chinwe Okeke sensitized the participants on the need to mobilize, inform parents, guardians and caregivers to avail their children between the ages of 0 to 59 months/5 years for the uptake of the Polio immunization because government at all levels intends to achieve a healthy child, family and nation.
“The National Immunization on polio eradication campaign taking place all over Nigeria will be done in two phases. After which there will be a survey to know wether polio is still in the country or not. If there are still traces of polio the national polio immunization campaign may be repeated if not, polio immunization will be done only as routine immunization at birth, 10 weeks and 14 weeks.
“Prevention is better than cure. No one will like to have a cripple as a child especially when it is a preventable disease.
“The OPV implementation will last for 4 days, May 3 to 6, 2025 with two extra days for mop up. It will take place from house to house, churches, markets, schools, PHCs, and everywhere we can see children.
“We are here to sensitize you on three major areas. Firstly is the need for proper hand washing, personal, environmental and food hygiene. Secondly is on the benefits of Exclusively Breastfeeding your newborn baby until the child is 6 months without water or any other kind of food. Thirdly is immunization of different kinds.
“There are communicable and non communicable diseases. If you immunize your child but your neighbor refused to immunize her own child, your child is not 100 percent safe. Your child may still be infected by some kinds of diseases. Please, take the campaign to your neighborhood, churches so that everyone shall avail their children for immunization wether against polio or any other kind of immunization. Together we can achieve a healthy nation,” said Mrs Okeke.
Moreover, the World Health Organization (WHO) Representatives , Dr Willie Onolugo from Awka and Dr. Chisom from Abuja in there separate speeches assured the people of the potency and genuineness of vaccines saying that every vaccine brought into Nigeria is tested and certified before it is approved for immunization or administration.
They said that there are no differences between the vaccines administered for free during National Immunization campaigns and the vaccines paid for or taken as routine immunization at the various health facilities discouraging people on the falsehood spread via the social media.
The Health Educator/SMO, Mrs OkpalaNwankwo Chinememma Ukamaka thanked the Stakeholders, WDCs, representative of the President General Abatete, Chief Chimaeme Ezigbo Nwadike who was ably represented by Mr Uchenna Ekenwa, clergy and nursing mothers for attending the flag off urging them to ensure 100 percent compliance of the OPV immunization.