23rd July, 2023
By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal
The Kwara Government has commenced administration of Oral Polio vaccines for children in Lafiagi, Edu Local Government Area of the state.
Speaking on the sidelines of the immunisation campaign on Sunday, Dr Nusirat Elelu, the Executive Secretary of Kwara Primary Health Care Development Agency, explained that it is an exercise to protect children from childhood killer disease.
She described Polio as a viral disease that can cause irreversible paralysis in infected individuals.
“This is in spite of the fact that the disease can easily be prevented by an effective and readily available oral polio vaccine which is safe and easy to administer.
“The African region has successfully eradicated the wild type polio virus. However, the circulating mutant virus still pose significant health threat in many parts of the country.
“We need to be on guard to ensure our children are protected thus necessitating the occasional state-wide polio vaccination campaigns,” she said.
According to her, the agency and its partners has been able to successfully interrupt the transmission of the circulating mutant polio virus across the 16 LGAs through quality polio vaccination campaigns in the last several months.
The support received from the state government, partners, traditional and religious institutions in previous campaigns, have contributed to the outstanding performances recorded in immunisation and other PHC activities, resulting in multiple awards in the last few of months.
“This is heart warming as we would continue to count on this support to keep polio and other vaccine preventable diseases at zero,” she said.
Elelu also emphasised the important role of traditional institution in polio vaccination campaigns, other routine immunisation activities and all other primary health care interventions.
Responding, Alhaji Muhammadu Kudu-Kawu, the Emir of Lafiagi, observed the importance of PHC as key to the health of the citizenry.
He noted that PHC programmes have been very successful in elimination of communicable diseases in the communities across the state.
Kudu-Kawu pledged his support and enjoined mothers and caregivers in the community to make available their children for vaccination against polio.
On his part, Dr Saliu Ahmed, the World Health Organisation (WHO) State Coordinator, commended the Emir for donating life jacket to healthcare workers.
He also urged healthcare workers to continue with the selfless consistent services to the people, adding that WHO will continue to give necessary support needed.
NAN