The Kogi State Government has expressed joy that the country has not recorded any reported case of Polio outbreak in the last eight month.

The Kogi State Governor, Capt Idris Wada stated this on the occasion of the State flag-off of March National Immunization Plus Days, held at the Lokongoma Primary Health Centre in Lokoja.

The Governor who was Represented by his Deputy, Yomi Awoniyi, said the development which meets the expectations of the WHO, was made possible by several approaches, amongst which he noted includes the NIPDs which he explained has yielded positive results.

The Governor urged particularly, rural dwellers not to shun the Polio vaccination as it does not have any negative effect on children.

Capt Wada commended the health workers in the state and stakeholders for breaking the transmission of the Polio Virus disease and for sustaining the Polio free status of the state since 2009.

The Governor expressed appreciation to NPHCDA and other development partners for their fight against Polio and other child killer diseases, assured of every support that will help eradicate Polio in the state.

While noting that his administration will continue to make primary health care delivery the cornerstone of his administration, Capt Wada, urged women in the state to make available children for immunization.

In a goodwill address at the occasion, Hajia Halimat Wada, Wife of the Kogi State Governor, Represented by Dr Docas Onumiyan, expressed optimism that soon Polio will be a thing of the past in the country, appealed to mothers to make available their children below the age of five years for vaccination.

Hajia Halimat appealed to mothers that the vaccine is not harmful urged for critical stakeholders to join hands in ensuring that Polio and other child killer diseases is wiped out from the state, commended the state government for sustaining the state’s polio free status since 2009.

In a key note address, Dr Idris Omede, Kogi State Commissioner for Health, represented by Aliyu S.O, Permanent Secretary State Ministry of Health, said the NIPDs will hold from 14th to 17th March 2015, expressed happiness that the state has since 2009 remained Polio free, urged for the sustenance through strategies that will completely eliminate the disease.

Dr Omede, said the eradication of Polio through vaccine immunization will avert the consequences associated with Polio infection in children which include permanent disability and in some instances death, commended the state government for making health care delivery a priority in its transformation agenda.

Efforts the Commissioner explained has been put in place to ensure that vaccination teams visit every households and schools and some designated health centres to immunize children below the age of five years against diseases as Polio,and other killer diseases.

In a welcome remarks, Andrew Maha, DLG, Lokoja LGA described Polio as a child killer disease which to a large extent reduce the life span of future leaders, disclosed that the Local Government has attained 95% immunization coverage in all its ten wards.

Highlights of the NIPDs was the presentation of goodwill messages by stakeholders in the fight to eliminate Polio and the administration of Polio Vaccines on children as well as the distribution of Mosquito nets to mothers.


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