Lucky Obukohwo Reporting
The United Nations Children’s Fund UNICEF said it has eye marked no fewer than five million children for vaccination against HPV, Polio, measles and other child-killer diseases in the South West and Edo states.
UNICEF Social Behavioural Change expert, Mrs Akinola-Adewole said this in Oyo at a one-day zonal media orientation on the Human Papilloma Virus/Polio Supplemental Immunisation Integrated Activity organised by the Oyo State Ministry of Information in collaboration with UNICEF for relevant government health officials and media practitioners from the Southwest and Edo States
Mrs Akinola-Adewole, advised parents to present their children for vaccination during the weeklong 2024 Integrated Supplemental Immunisation Activities to be undertaken in Edo, Oyo, Ondo, Osun, Ogun and Ekiti states which commences October 5th
The immunisation activity is to be undertaken by UNICEF in partnership with the governments of Edo, Oyo, Ondo, Osun, Ogun and Ekiti states.
The Social Behavioral Change expert, who explained the benefits of immunisation to include eradication of deadly diseases like polio, measles, yellow fever, and HPV, among others, maintained that over the years, vaccines have proven to be effective in eradicating some public health diseases such as smallpox and a host of others
She dismissed the myths and misconceptions preventing some parents from presenting their children for vaccination, saying that Vaccines are safe, effective and free as she called on media to assist with sensitization and awareness on the safety and reliability of vaccines.
Various health officials from the partnering Southwest and Edo states, who rolled out the targeted number of children in their states also highlighted different efforts such as community engagement, street publicity and media engagement put in place to ensure success of the planned visitation.