By PATRICK ABANG, Calabar –
No fewer than 900,000 children between the ages of 0-59 months are set to be vaccinated against Poliomyelitis which is one of the deadliest disease in the history of mankind .
The Director General of the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Janet Ekpenyong, disclosed this during the flagging off campaign held at the palace of Obol Opol of Ugep in Yakur LGA of the state.
Mrs. Ekpenyong noted that the role of traditional rulers can never be over emphasized especially in delivering quality and productive healthcare to citizens.
She urged parents and caregivers to protect the lives of the next generation by granting them the opportunity to get vaccinated within the stipulated time, citing example with the Obol Opol who has often led in the mobilization of children within his Community for similar exercises.
She said: “Immunization is a right of a child and the child should not be deprived.
According to her, the state government with support from partner agencies have mapped out strategies to get all children vaccinated irrespective of weather conditions, topographical challenges as well as other surmountable barriers which hindered accessibility and 100% coverage in the time past.
Ekpenyong said, with the commitment of health workers with compelling voices from strategic leaders like the Traditional Rulers council, Religious leaders, Government functionaries, Youths and Women leaders, the state has remained Poliomyelitis free despite panicking figures from some states of the federation.
While lamenting the devastating effects of the disease on children within 0-59 months, Mrs. Ekpenyong, said all hands must be on deck for continuous advocacies and sensitization in churches, schools , markets and other places of public gathering .
She appreciates the efforts of His Royal Majesty, the Obol Opol of Ugep in identifying with the health sector as his continuous advocacies has led to the advancement of the health sector in Yakurr LGA as well as the state at large.
On his part, The Obol Opol of Ugep, His Royal Majesty, Ofem Ubana Eteng, was excited that exercise of such magnitude is being decentralized to encourage participation and give a sense of belonging to all communities in the state.
He pledged his support towards raising awareness on the Outbreak Response on Poliomyelitis and other health interventions in order to compliment the efforts of the state government and health workers who work tirelessly for the outright elimination of all vaccine preventable diseases.
Also, The Director Public Health, State Ministry of Health, Iwara Iwara, reiterated Government’s commitment to eradicating vaccine preventable diseases and encouraged mothers to ensure their children are vaccinated as it is the responsibility of the parents to protect their children.
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