ANAMBRA STATE GOVERNMENT INTENSIFIES EFFORTS TOWARDS MAINTAINING ITS POLIO-FREE STATUS

Anambra State Government has expressed its commitment to ensure the sustenance of the eradication of wild polio virus in the area.

The Commissioner for Health in the State, Dr Joe Akabuike expressed the commitment while briefing newsmen in Awka on the National Immunization Plus Days which  kicks-off tomorrow in the area. Dr Akabuike who pointed out that  the State had been polio free for more than ten years, emphasized that the programme was a strategic plan to strengthen the fight against polio and increase acceptability of oral polio vaccine in the country.

The Commissioner who explained that children between zero to five years were to be immunized, maintained that the strategy to be used in the programme remained house to house visit, churches, schools, markets, motor-parks, village squares and any where children were found.

According to him, inactivated polio vaccine pentavalent, pneumococcal conjugate vaccines as well as measles and yellow fever vaccines will be administered during the programme. Dr Akabuike encouraged parents and caregivers to ensure that their children are immunized noting  that the vaccines were free and safe.

KEVIN EKEDIEGWU