Immunisation: Lagos, Kano target 4.8m, 3m children

As the second round of 2018 National Immunisation Plus Days (NIPDs), polio vaccination campaign for children aged zero to 59 months kicks off, Lagos and Kano States have said they planned to immunise 4.8m and 3m children respectively. 

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Primary Health Care, Dr. Olufemi Onanuga, at a flag-off ceremony to commence the campaign at Agege Local Government Secretariat, stated that 4, 823,122 children are expected to be covered during the campaign.
 
He said: “The NIPDs would involve house-to-house, transit and fixed post teams. In all, Lagos State will mount 752 fixed posts, 4859 house-to-house and 1712 transit teams, children at home, markets, churches, mosques, major car parks and social events venues would be specifically targeted.”
 
Onanuga added that plans have been made to implement activities that would attract children and caregivers to vaccination posts, stressing that the vaccination campaign will hold between 8am and 2pm daily for four days.
 
While noting that the state government’s goal is to increase the number of children between zero and 59 months, who receive two drops of oral polio vaccine, irrespective of their previous immunisation status, the Special Adviser observed that it would boost the herd of immunity against poliomyelitis.

In Kano, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Kabiru Ibrahim Getso cautioned health givers participating in the exercise to ensure adequate house-to-house coverage of all legible children across the 44 local government areas of Kano State.Dr. Getso, who hinted that about three million children are expected to be covered during the exercise, appealed to traditional and religious leaders, as well as other stakeholders to help mobilise residents to participate.