Ogun State Government Advocates Vitamin A Supplementation For OBR Vaccines
The Ogun State government has expressed its concerns over children suffering from malnourishment and is advocating for a boost of the immune system of children through supplements. The state government said that it was being conscious of the fact that a child who is well-nourished would do well and have a better immunity to diseases, henceforth the need to supplement the ongoing Outbreak Response vaccination with the administration of vitamin A to children who are between six to 59 months.
Dr. Tomi Coker, the commissioner for health, had disclosed this information during a monitoring exercise of the second round Polio Outbreak Response (OBR) immunisation, which had kicked off in Abeokuta, and mentioned that, although Nigeria was certified free from the wild polio virus in 2020, there were still reported cases of a vaccine-derived poliovirus variant in some parts of the country, thereby creating the need to boost the immunity of Ogun children against the disease.
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“In order to improve and increase our coverage, the Ogun government, through the State Primary Health Care Development Board, in collaboration with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, with support from development partners, World Health Organisation and Rotary International, recommend that children 0-5 years should receive two drops of the oral polio vaccine (OPV) for two rounds, irrespective of their previous immunisation status.”
She alsio added that the vaccination teams will be visiting all of the households, schools, churches, mosques, markets and other public places.
Dr. Elijah Ogunsola, the executive secretary, Primary Health Care Development Board, stated that the administration remained committed to the safety of residents especially children as it continues to provide vaccines and urges parents, guardians, community, and religious leaders to ensure that all eligible children are vaccinated during the campaign.
While giving separate contributions, Dr. Festus Adetomiwa, representative, of Rotary International, and Dr. Olufumilola Kolude, the South West Zonal Coordinator, WHO, explained that the vaccines were safe and effective in protecting children against diseases and reiterated that their organizations remained committed to supporting Ogun State Government in all its healthcare programs that are aimed at ensuring the wellbeing of residents, especially children.
As they gave their separate remarks, Mrs. Cordelia Eze and Sikrat Akorede gave their appreciation to the State Government’s efforts at ensuring that children were healthy and protected against preventable diseases and promised to inform other parents and caregivers in their communities to seize the opportunity and get their children and wards vaccinated with the OPV and vitamin A supplement.
