Polio: Kwara Targets Over 1m Children

The Kwara Government is targeting over a million children for polio vaccination across the 16 local government area of the state.

The executive secretary of the Kwara State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Nusirat Elelu, disclosed this in Ilorin, the state capital.

She explained that the agency has commenced the implementation of a three-day Local Immunization Days (LID), adding that, “preparation has also been concluded to roll out another round of polio campaign in the state.

“Immunization provides protection against life-threatening vaccine preventable diseases such as tuberculosis, pneumonia, diarrhea, influenza, meningitis, and cancers and can reduce most post-neonatal under-five mortality.”

Elelu explained that her agency is implementing a three-day intensive routine immunization programme for children under the age of two years.

“To this end over 1 million children who are less than two years will be reached with life-saving vaccines within three days to protect them against childhood killer diseases.

“The exercise is taking place across all the apex Primary Health Care Facilities and outreach posts in the 193 wards of Kwara,” she said.

She disclosed that another round of out break response to circulating mutant variant of polio is scheduled to start on 26th October to 29th October, 2024.

Elelu noted that the campaign is meant to prevent childhood paralysis due to polio virus.
She enjoined all parents, care givers, religious houses, schools and Quranic institutions to make eligible children available for vaccination as the team moves from houses to markets, religious houses and schools.

“All children 0-five years are expected to be vaccinated irrespective of their previous vaccination status,” she said, reiterating that the vaccine is safe, efficacious and does not have overdose.