Kwara to immunize over 1.5 million children against polio
By Mosunmola Ayobami, Ilorin
The Kwara State Government, through the Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency (KWSPHCDA), is set to immunize over 1,527,859 children under the age of five during the November round of the 2024 Outbreak Response (OBR) campaign against the circulating mutant variant of the poliovirus.
The immunization campaign will cover every part of the state and is scheduled to run from Saturday, November 30, to Tuesday, December 3, 2024.
Dr. Nusirat Elelu, the Executive Secretary of KWSPHCDA, disclosed this during a planning meeting aimed at assessing the state’s readiness for the campaign. She explained that poliomyelitis, commonly known as polio, is a highly infectious viral disease primarily affecting children under five years.
The virus is transmitted through the fecal-oral route or, less commonly, through contaminated water or food. Once in the body, the virus multiplies in the intestines and can invade the nervous system, potentially causing irreversible paralysis.
Dr. Elelu emphasized that all children aged 0-5 years are eligible for the vaccination, regardless of their previous immunization status. She reassured parents that the vaccine is safe, effective, and cannot be overdosed.
The Executive Secretary urged parents, caregivers, religious institutions, schools, and Quranic centers to ensure that eligible children are available for vaccination. Teams will visit homes, markets, religious centers, and schools to reach all targeted children.
Although Nigeria has been certified polio-free, Dr. Elelu highlighted the importance of sustaining this status by boosting population immunity among at-risk groups through supplementary and routine immunization campaigns.
She noted that the state government continues to collaborate with development partners such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) to enhance the population’s immune defenses.
Dr. Elelu expressed her gratitude to development partners and health workers for their dedication during the previous campaign and called for even greater commitment in the upcoming exercise.
She also lauded the unwavering support and financial commitment of the Governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, for prioritizing the health of Kwarans and ensuring access to affordable and quality healthcare services in government facilities across the state.
