The Kwara State Government in collaboration with UNICEF has urged media practitioners in the state to intensify campaign on polio immunization.
The Executive Secretary, Kwara State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Prof. Nusirat Elelu, made the call at the media engagement held ahead of immunization exercise scheduled to commence on the 2nd of May in the state.
Elelu, who was represented by the Director, Personnel and Finance, Mr Ajide Olayioye, urged media outlets to always inform the populace on the polio immunization campaign to correct the erroneous impression.
She stressed the need for journalists to always educate the society on health and benefit of immunization against polio.
In her presentation, Kwara State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Mobilization Officer, Dr Dupe Shittu, announced that one million children have so far been vaccinated across the 16 local government areas of the state.
Shittu noted that the children were vaccinated in the last immunization exercise earlier in the year, and the success was achieved through efforts of vaccination team.
She said that community leaders and traditional rulers were engaged to resolve non-compliance issues after the campaign.
The medical expert disclosed that some local governments were found culpable of non -compliance in the last immunization campaign occasioned by absence, houses not visited and flagrant disregard to compliance.
She implored media practitioners, mothers and caregivers to increase the awareness of the campaign to find a lasting remedy to the challenge of non – compliance.
In her remarks, United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) Representative, Hajia Rasheedat Idris, asserted that the the mass dialogue was to engage media practitioners and other stakeholders toward effective dissemination of information on immunization.
Mr Jejelola Abdulganiyu of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) described non -compliance with immunization as injurious to children in the society.
Abdulganiyu praised the state government for vaccination compliance and called on the media to always debunk every rumour about immunization.
The Focal Person for Community Engagement from the State Primary Healthcare Department Agency, Mr Adisa Sulaiman Tekobo, said that the seminar was aimed at bringing together key stakeholders from the media and harmonize social mobilization strategies for improved caregiver awareness, uptake services and community participation.
