Kwara to commence second round of polio vaccination July 22 – Official

Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency has finalised plans to commence the second round of pral polio vaccination from July 22 to 25.

The Executive Secretary of the agency, Dr. Nusirat Elelu, made this known during her presentation at the 2023 Stakeholders meeting of the State Task Force on Immunisation and Primary Health Care.

She said the inauguration of the second round of vaccination would take place at the Emir of Lafiagi Palace in the Edu Local Government Area of Kwara, noting that it is the first to take place in Kwara North.

According to her, the rationale behind taking the inauguration to Kwara North is to strengthen traditional leaders’ engagement on routine vaccinations for children in communities.

Elelu observed that a lot of achievement has been recorded in the area of reducing childhood killer diseases through immunisation.

She, however, expressed the need to sustain the success recorded on Routine Immunisation and OutBreak Response across the 16 local government areas of the state.

The executive secretary noted that Kwara emerged best among the North Central states in the Primary Health Care Leadership Challenge PHC-LCF.

She said, “Kwara passed with about 80 per cent across the country and we will continue to ensure that every child and mother get quality care. The state will ensure consistent improvement in its trajectory of achieving quality immunisation status. A lot of mothers in Kwara are now attended to in hospitals and by skilled birth attendants.”

Elelu attributed the success to the commitment of the stakeholders, especially the State Task Force on immunisation.

She underscored the need for more commitment from the state government and on the need to curb insecurity across Kwara communities, noting, however, that the challenge of insecurity is nationwide.

She tasked LGCs to be fully committed to strengthening routine immunisation in respective communities across the state.

The Deputy Governor of the state, Mr. Kayode Alabi, reiterated the resolve of the state government to ensure quality healthcare for the people.

He commended the State Task Force on Immunisation for their efforts and enjoined them not to rest on their oars but to continue promoting the health of the citizenry.

Also speaking, Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry of Health, Dr Abubakar Ayinla, explained that the meeting always provides the opportunity for different partners and agencies to deliberate on improving routine immunisation in the state.

He underscored the need to ensure all hands are on deck to improve on child and maternal healthcare, and that all children receive the necessary vaccines to survive. (NAN)