Second Round of Polio Vaccination Commences in Oyo

By Babatunde Tiamiyu

In furtherance of the steps aimed at boosting children’s immunity for a healthy growth, the second round of polio vaccination exercise tagged: “Outbreak Response 2” has been flagged off in Oyo State.

The “Outbreak Response 2” targeting children from zero to five years old is a collaborative project between Oyo State government, World Health Organization, WHO, United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF and other partners.

Flagging off the immunisation Programme at the Oke Apon Health care centre, Total garden, Ibadan, the Executive Secretary, Oyo State Primary Health Care Board, OYSPHCB, Dr Muideen Olatunji said polio mellitus is a deadly health challenge posing impediment to the healthy growth and welfare of children.

The Executive Secretary who was represented by the Director, Disease Control and immunization of the Primary Health Care Board, Dr Johnson Osoko said it is important for mothers to present their children for immunization so as to protect them against diseases.

Dr Olatunji who said the exercise is more important than palliatives been clamoured for by mothers, advised mothers to shun any misconceptions and report noticeable adverse reactions and complications to primary health centres.

The OYSPHCB executive secretary, who assured the public that there was no outbreak of polio in Oyo State, however said traces of the disease, was noticed from samples collected from dump sites.

While emphasising the need for timely presentation of children for immunization, Dr Olatunji warned that late vaccination of children would diminish the required immunity to resist disease interference.

On his part, Oyo State coordinator of the WHO, Dr. Phillip Zorto and UNICEF Consultant in Oyo State, Mr. Samuel Olatunji stressed the need for mothers to ensure proper positioning of children for breastfeeding and presentation of children for vaccination.

 Earlier, the Public Health Coordinator, Ibadan North Local government, Mrs. Oluremi Olatunbosun who said the first round of the exercise was earlier carried out in early March, noted that the current exercise would last between today, 20th of April and Monday, 23rd of April.

Mrs. Olatunbosun urged mothers to maintain proper hygiene and cooperate with the vaccination team who will be moving from house to house and place to place to administer the vaccine on children.

Some of the nursing mothers at the event while lauding the initiative described it as timely and worthwhile.

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