Immunization: we will continue to fund prevention of disease- Ondo Govt

The Ondo State Government says that it will continue to fund the Ondo State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (OSPHDA) in order to live up to its mandate of effectively curtailing vaccine-prevented diseases in the state.

The wife of the state governor, Mrs Betty Anyanwu- Akeredolu, stated this when she flagged off the September 2023 National Immunization Plus Days ( NIPDs) on Thursday in Akure. 

The governor’s wife, who was represented  by the state Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr Olubunmi Osadahun, said that the government was committed to viable and effective primary healthcare authorities in the 18 local government areas of the state through OSPHDA.

She stated  that the Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu-led administration had continuously supported the NIPDs and other supplemental immunization exercises ( SIEs).

According to her, the state has been ranked among the best performing states in routine immunization in the country.

She stated that the state had achieved significant progress in the oral polio vaccine coverage and other routine immunization with 100 per cent in December 2022 and January 2023.

Anyanwu-Akeredolu added that the achievements resulted from the commitment, hard work and dedication of health workers both at state and local government area levels.

The governor’s wife explained that although Nigeria had been certified polio-free, the country could not yet rest because the circulating variant of the polio virus was still in the country, hence the need for continuous vaccination. 

“ NIPDs is, therefore, one of the national strategies put in place to guarantee a completely polio-free Nigeria and by extension reduce the disease burden rate of children under five years old,” she said. 

She commended all partners and supporters in promoting health agenda of the present administration in the state.

The governor’s wife, therefore urged all LGA chairmen traditional rulers, religious leaders, health workers and community at large to step up intervention for the September immunization exercise.

She said that the failure of one child to take the oral polio vaccine would be a collective failure and a looming danger for the society.

Anyanwu-Akeredolu asked mothers and guardians to make their  children and wards between 0 to 59 months old available for vaccination or take them to the nearest health facilities.

Also speaking, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Ajaka, said  the immunization campaign was to further strengthen the immunization of children under 5 years against Polio disease.

Ajaka, who was represented by Mrs Folukemi Aladenola, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, said that despite that Nigeria had been certified Polio-free, there was need to  continue routine and supplement immunization in order to combat other circulating variants that were sprea environmentally. 

He said that the state government  under the leadership of Gov. Oluwarotimi  Akeredolu had always been supporting  all immunization activities and other  childhood health interventions.

The commissioner added that the present administration in the state  recognized the importance of childhood immunization being

championed nationally and locally by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and the Ondo State Primary Health Care Development Agency respectively.

He  said that it was commendable that  efforts in the health sector were being duly recognized and applauded at the right and important levels. 

According to him, the PHC Leadership Challenge Award was given to 

the health agency in the state  ably led by the Permanent Secretary. Dr Francis Akanbiemu.

He said that the award  was a testament to the hardwork. commitment and dedication of the management and staff of the agency.

Ajaka extended his appreciation to all the key players in the immunization and PHC activities in the state for their technical and financial support. 

Ajaka said that the state had always recorded huge successes in previous NIPDS rounds, adding that the last exercise was 100 per cent successfully. 

He said that all hands must be on deck to ensure that the immunization was 100 per cent successful, tasking traditional leaders , the religious leaders. market women, students, health workers to ensure another impactful NIPDS campaign. 

“To make this successful, every one of us here: health workers  and others should ensure that  we mention about the NIPDS to motihers and caregivers of children 0-59onths in our various environments. 

“Let them know that the health workers will move vaccine around and it is their duty to present their children añd wards for vaccination,” he stated.