Dr Nusirat Elelu, the Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency on Tuesday in Ilorin disclosed that the state will commence the first Round Oral Polio Immunisation on July 22nd to 25th.
Elelu stated this during her presentation at the 2023 Stakeholders meeting of the Kwara State Task force on Immunization and Primary Health Care.
She disclosed that the inauguration of the Second Round Oral Polio Vaccine will take place at the Emir of Lafiagi palace, in Edu Local Government Area of Kwara, which she said 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’ engagemnet on routine vaccinations for children in communities.
Elelu observed that a lot of achievement has been recorded in area of reducing childhood killer disease through immunisation.
She however expressed the need to sustain the success recorded on Routine Immunization (RI) and OutBreak Response (OBR) across the 16 Local Government Area of the state.
Elelu applauded that Kwara emerged best among the North Central in Primary Health Care Leadership Challenge PHC-LCF.
“Kwara passed with about 80 percent across the country and we will continue to ensure that every child and mother have quality care.
“The state will ensure consistent improvement in trajectory of achieving quality immunization status.
“A lot of mothers in Kwara are now attended to in the hospitals and by skilled birth attendants,” she said.
She attributed the success to the commitment of the stakeholders especially the State Task Force on immunization.
Elelu observed the need for more commitment from the state government and the need to curb insecurity across Kwara communities, adding that the challenge of insecurity is nationwide.
She also tasks LGAs to be fully committed in the strengthening routine immunization in respective communities across the state.
In his response, Mr Kayode Alabi, the Kwara Deputy Governor reiterated the resolve of the state government to ensure quality healthcare for the people.
He also commended the State Task Force on Immunization and enjoin them not to rest on their oars but continue promoting the health of the citizenry.
Also speaking, Dr Abubakar Ayinla, the Permanent Secretary of the Kwara State Ministry of Health explained that the meeting always affords the opportunity for different partners and agencies to deliberate on improving routine immunization in the state.
He underscored the need to ensure all hands are on deck in improving child and maternal health care and all children receive necessary vaccines to survive.
