Ogun records 93% coverage on immunisation

Mothers and caregivers in Ogun State have been charged to embrace the opportunities of immunisation and other healthcare packages provided by the state government through the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW).

The wife of the state governor, Olufunso Amosun, gave the charge at the flag-off of the second round of the 2018 MNCHW, held at Alaaga Primary Health Centre in Ipokia Local Government Area of the state.

She urged participants to take the message to others in their various communities and localities, to ensure that more mothers and children enrol for the programme, so they can be immunised and benefit from proper direction on nutrition.

Amosun said the state government, in collaboration with development partners, had made adequate provision for various health interventions such as vitamin A supplementation, deworming tablets, insecticide treated nets, as well as nutritional supplements for malnourished children.

Earlier, the duo of the State Coordinator, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Victoria Adebiyi and the United Nations Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Representative, Florence Moloku, revealed that the state had recorded 93% immunisation coverage at the last exercise.

They however advised mothers not to relent in availing themselves of the opportunities offered by the exercise to enable every child benefit, adding that government efforts geared towards reduction of maternal and infant mortality should be complemented by mothers.

The Commissioner for Health, Babatunde Ipaye, noted that consistent routine immunisation programmes, such as the MNCHW, had helped in boosting the immunity of children and made the State Polio free, as it had not recorded any case of the disease and cholera since 2009, despite its outbreak in other states of the federation.

He enjoined women of child bearing age, caregivers and mothers of children from ages nine to 59 months to take advantage of the programme, saying the services were free.

Two of the participants at the programme, Raimot Ogunbiyi and Maria Poveh, commended the State government for providing qualitative and affordable healthcare for all, promising to inform others and their relatives to visit the designated posts with their children for immunization and other checkups.

YEMISI FASHOLA, Abeokuta