Mrs Habeebat Yusuff Agba Egbe, wife to the executive chairman, Ibadan North Local Government, Area of Oyo State has flagged off the novel oral polio immunization campaign at the council area.
The exercise kicked off this week to protect children from Wild Polio Virus (WPV) and Vaccine Derive Polio Virus (VDPV).
It is expatiated that Polio (poliomyelitis) is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system.
“Children younger than five years old are more likely to contract the virus than any other group”.
Mrs Habeebat Yusuff (Agba Egbe) in her opening remarks at the programme held at the local government primary health center, Idi Ogungun, urged nursing mothers and health workers to partake fully in the exercise.
According to her, the development is significant for the general well-being of children.
“It will be recalled that Nigeria was certified free from Wild Polio Virus (WPV) in August 2020 after three years of reporting no case of the virus.
“However, there has been an increase in transmission of Vaccine Derived Polio Virus (VDPV) due to low routine Immunization coverage occasioned by COVID-19, security challenges and poor access to health care”.
“According to the Ministry of Health (MOH), the situation above led the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Oyo State Ministry of Health and Oyo State Primary Health Care Board with the support of WHO, UNICEF, CHAI, Rotary International to see the need for a fresh round of immunization exercise.
“We will continue to move in line with the mother and child scheme of her excellency the mother of all in Oyo state, Mrs. Ominini Makinde for a polio-free state”, Mrs. Yusuff concluded.
