The Transition Committee Chairman, Abeokuta South Local Government, Hon. Ayodeji Shomide on Friday joined the wife of Ogun State Governor, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun to flag off the ceremony of first round National Immunization Days, NIDS, at Oke- Ilewo family health clinic, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The first lady in her speech reiterated prince Dapo Abiodun’s administration to ensure that Ogun state is free of polio by June of this year.
While speaking to newsmen, she disclosed that two million under 5 years children will be vaccinated across the State
She said, ”Ogun state has not recorded any case of polio for over ten years now. I want to give you the good news that by June of this year Ogun state will be celebrating polio free day”
According to her, the exercise will begin on Saturday, 15 February and will end on Tuesday, 18th, 2020.
”The Immunization officials will be moving from one house to another to vaccinate the children. I want to call on the care givers, mothers to allow the children to enjoy this opportunity so that they can be vaccinated against polio”
She assured residents of Governor Abiodun’s commitment to continue to provide proper health care for the people.
”His excellency prince Dapo Abiodun will not relent in providing quality health care for the citizens. He will also revives all primary health centers in Ogun state” she concludes
Speaking earlier, the Abeokuta South Local Government Transition Committee Chairman, Hon. Shomide in his opening speech noted that polio is a disease with its attendant paralysis and deformities of limbs and could occasionally cause death.
He said that he and other members of the committee have agreed to build and renovate health centers within the first six months of his administration.
”We will regulate and support all Immunization activities, both routine and supplemental activities. We will also reduce infant and maternal mortality rates by 1/4, hinged on provision of basic Olystetric equipment and training and retraining of health care workers and provision of essential drugs to all our health centers at subsidized rate”
According to him, it is common among children under 5 and suffices to say that it comes with a lot of economic hardship on individuals, families, communities and government as a whole.
”Its management is very expensive and with very poor outcome, resulting in physical deformity and Psychosocial malfunctioning.
”Prevention they say is cheaper and better than cure, unfortunately polio is not curable. The solution to this menace is what Her Excellency has come to perform here by immunizing children between age 0-5 years.
”I therefore enjoin our mothers to avail wards this golden opportunity by allowing their children to be vaccinated as our team of their health workers move from house to house.
He therefore appreciates the efforts of Prince Dapo Abiodun for the opportunity he gave him and his team for impacting positively on Abeokuta south local government.
”On behalf of over two hundred and seventy six thousand inhabitants of Abeokuta south local government, we want to thank our amiable governor, His Excellency Prince Dapo Abiodun, the architect of New Ogun for not only deeming it fit to embark on this life saving project, Immunization of children but for also choosing Abeokuta south local government as the kick start point”
