Imo State Govt flags off 2014 National Immunization programme

Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha flagging off the 2014 National Immunization programme at Owerri-North Local Government Area on Monday

The Imo state Government has flagged off the 1st round of the 2014 National Immunization programme.

Governor Okorocha who flagged off the ceremony at the Owerri North Local Government Area headquarters, Orie-Uratta on Monday, disclosed that his administration attached great importance to the total well-being of children.

He decried cases where children’s lives were put in jeopardy, wasted and abused, describing it such as abominable and maintained that the success of the future leaders in Nigeria would be guaranteed if adequate attention is given to the quality of health care provided for children today. Said he;  “if we must save our future, we must save our children”.

Speaking further at the occasion, the governor called on parents to ensure that their children were immunized accordingly and stressed the need for proper mobilization and information dissemination and called on traditional rulers to ensure that every nook and cranny of their communities was properly covered.

He assured the people of Owerri North of more dividends of democracy which would include the reconstruction of Orie-Uratta road and the Uratta-Ikeduru road.

Earlier in a speech, the Imo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Edward Ihejirika stated that the Imo state Government in collaboration with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and partners organized the programme to ensure increased routine immunization coverage of all antigens and achieve the final interruption of wild polio virus.

He pointed out that the overall goal was to ensure the reduction of under-five childhood mortality rate by moiré than 95% as well as to maintain the Polio – Free status which Imo state had achieved since 2005.

The campaign he stated would administer oral polio vaccines to children from O to 5 years irrespective of their previous vaccination status for polio eradication as well as immunize other children within one year that had not completed their routine immunization.

Adding his voice, the Transition Committee Chairman of Owerri-North LGA, Engr. Chuks Ololo, appreciated the State Governor for being part of the programme and for giving Owerri people a sense of belonging.

Engr Ololo advised parents and care givers to access immunization services provided for their children free of charge from health centers and vaccination post nearest to them.