Kwara govt. launches Meningitis-A vaccine

The Kwara State government says it is committed to the wellness of its people and not ready to loose anybody to any epidemic, just as it pledged not to relent at providing good health care service delivery to the people.

The State Deputy Governor, Mr Kayode Alabi, stated this on Tuesday at the flag-off of the introduction of Meningitis -A Vaccine into routine Immunization in the State.

Alabi urged Community, Traditional, Religious leaders and other relevant stakeholders to advocate for children within the ages nine to fifteen months to be vaccinated at any nearest health facility.

The Deputy Governor said the routine vaccination is administered free of charge employing that all children within the ages to be vaccinated are not  deny the right to good health.

He said meningitis  is a pandemic but the sub-saharan Africa covering about 26 countries with Nigeria included suffer large outbreaks especially during the middle of the dry season.

The deputy governor added that it could claim the lives of more than half of the people infected if not treated and ten to twenty percent of survived victims develop permanent damages to a part or more body organs.

The Deputy Governor therefore implored the people to embrace good personal hygiene, avoid overcrowding and exclusively breast feeding and vaccination being important as a child that is fully vaccinated is not likely to develop the killer disease.

The Chairman, House Committee on Health, Alhaji Olatunde Rasaq Owolabi who pledged that the House would partner with appropriate institutions to achieve the desired goal encouraged Parents and caregivers to take advantage of the vaccines.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Rhoda Ajiboye stated that the Health sector had witnessed positive turn around since the inception of the Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq led administration especially with the payment of counterpart funds.

Ajiboye added that the Ministry would continue to work to complement government effort towards achieving universal health coverage for all.

The Executive Secretary of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Abimbola Folorunsho commended the State government for its  positive approach to health need of the people which had propelled the State to the frontline in the Country as against the bitter experience of the past.

The Representative of the World Health Organization, Gizachew Kebede and that of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Ishola Babatunde Abdulrazaq praised the State government for the effort and pledged their support to the success of the programme.

Earlier in his address of welcome, the Director of Personnel Management, Ilorin West Local Government, Alhaji Mukaila Ayantola, commended the State government adding that the programme would make the State free from Meningitis.

Ayantola called on Royal Fathers, Religious and Community leaders, Market Women and various interest group to assist in the mobilization effort to make the programme a huge success.

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