The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in collaboration with Imo State Health Ministry extended its free immunisation to 16 LGAs of the state.
The state’s immunisation officer, Dr Chibuzor Okoroama, disclosed this in Owerri, while briefing newsmen on the success rate of UNICEF’s Catch Up Immunisation campaign.
Our correspondent, who visited four out of 16 selected council areas of the state, monitored the programme’s implementation and reported that the programme received wide acceptance among the locals.
Speaking in Mbaitoli council area, Mrs Chiwendu Enwerem commended UNICEF for the bold initiative to save the lives of children. She revealed that with this free immunisation parents have been relieved of the financial burden.
The four council areas monitored were Njaba, Mbaitoli, Ngor-Okpala and Owerri North.
Okoroama, a family physician, stressed that the 16 council areas covered in the programme represent the 65 per cent expected coverage, as directed by UNICEF.
She listed the other council areas to include Aboh Mbaise, Ezinihitte Mbaise, Ahiazu Mbaise, Isu, Ideato North, Ideato South, Orsu, Oru East, Nkwerre and Ohaji-Egbema.
Dr Okoroama described immunisation as the easiest and fastest means to protect children from deadly diseases and urged parents to ensure prompt immunisation of their children.
She said that in the course of immunisation, the team located zero dose children and under-immunised children, as well as children who had never been vaccinated.
She noted that vaccines are expensive, hence the need for parents to take advantage of the free immunisation provided by UNICEF to scale up their children’s immunity to diseases.
She, however, expressed satisfaction that despite operational challenges, the campaign was largely successful.
“ We conducted micro plan and implementation training at the state, LGA, and ward levels, which began on Dec. 10,2024 immediately after we received fund for the project.
“ We also used the Open Data Kit for direct transmission of information about supervision and we are glad to confirm that with all the results put together, we are able to achieve the expected 65 per cent coverage,” Okoroama stated.
She thanked the local vigilante groups in the rural communities and the security agencies in the state for their support in providing security for the public health officers, especially in troubled areas.
She also thanked the UNICEF for the programme and pledged the state government’s commitment to basic healthcare provision for the residents.
In her comment, the UNICEF communication officer, Dr. Ijeoma Onuoha Ogwe advised mothers to always take advantage of this free immunisation campaign to protect the lives of their children.
According to her, UNICEF will always support moves towards this direction as a matter of urgent attention.
“We have been doing our best globally to save the lives of our children and will continue in this direction, so as to safeguard the future of tomorrow’s leaders. This is our ultimate goal. “
