Speaking during the flag-off of polio immunisation campaign in Awka, at the weekend, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike, disclosed that 2.3 million children were vaccinated during the first phase of the exercise in September this year.
Obidike also said the vaccination, which begun on Saturday to end tomorrow, was to check the spread of the virus from a neighbouring state, where it affected some children.
He restated Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s firm commitment to tackling health-related issues in the state, adding: “This is the second phase of the exercise following the first phase undertaken between September 16 and 19, 2023 during which 2.3 million children under 59 months were vaccinated. This second phase of vaccination is in response to the outbreak of the polio virus in a neighbouring state.”
“We encourage parents and caregivers to present their children/wards to be immunised to strengthen their immunity against the virus.”
He noted that other exercises such as birth registration would accompany the immunisation.
“So, it is an all-encompassing campaign. The vaccines are safe and free of charge. I urge residents to report any health worker, who demands money to administer the vaccines,” he added, and called for public cooperation to make the campaign successful.
The commissioner explained that the exercise is organised by the State Primary Health Care Development Agency (ASPHCDA), in partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Syndani Group and National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA).
While soliciting help from the media to sensitise the people to understand the need to vaccinate their children against the disease, he counselled that vaccinated children stand the chance of living a healthy and longer life.
WHO coordinator in the state, Dr. Adamu Abdul-Nasir, congratulated Anambra for exceeding the target and coming tops in the South-East in the first phase of the vaccination exercise.
Executive Secretary, ASPHCDA, Chisom Uchem, noted that the state had taken delivery of over two million doses of the polio vaccine for the OBR2 campaign.
