UYO
The Akwa Ibom government has concluded preparations to begin 2022 Integrated Measles Vaccination Campaign (IMVC) and the Maternal Newborn Child Health Week (MNCHW) scheduled to begin on November 25.
The executive secretary, Akwa Ibom State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (AKSPHCDA), Dr Eno Attah, at the stakeholders meeting which took place in the agency board room, recently called on mothers and care givers to avail children for the exercise.
She remarked that the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) vaccination meant for adult was aimed at protect them and to improve their health status, hence she sought the cooperation of all stakeholders for a successful exercise.
Attah stressed that the agency which was serving its first tenure was building a strong foundation towards achieving a robust healthcare for all in the state.
Mrs Margret Etim, state director of Health Promotion, stated that MNCHW would be marked to remind mothers of effective, safe and hygienic ways of caring for babies which include; hand washing, washing of breast and taking children to health facility.
She said the meeting was arranged to orientate stakeholders on their roles and responsibilities in the programmes .
On the IMVC Etim explained that the target was to attain Supplemental Immunization Activities (SIA) by 95 per cent ; RI-Antigen, 90 per cent and COVID-91, 70 per cent.
Etim hinted children after being vaccinated might experience symptoms of fever, lasting three to five days, with running nose, generalized maculopa-pular, rashes, cough, coryzal/catarrh , conjunctivitis and kopliks spots as well as related complications.
She explained that the immunization activities include: integrated vaccination for nine months- 5years, while the routine immunization was from birth- 23 months, and that of COVID-19 was slated for 18 years and above.
Etim stated that the programme which would begin by 8am and ends by 3pm would be undertaken by service providers in church, mosque, schools, motor park, market, village and town hall , including hard to reach areas such; as riverine communities .
She said that one dose was given within nine months and two doses after 15 months, with the left thumb of a child marked.
The director added those babies who were born outside health facility would have the opportunity to get birth certificates from the National Population Commission (NPC), while lactating mothers and people with underlying diseases were eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccination.
She noted that the immunization which was free, safe, effective builds immunity against virus and complications and said that in the exercise, hard to reach areas such as riverine communities that have limited access to regular health services.
Etim informed that Community Health Influencers Promoters and Services (CHIPS) had been introduced into the primary healthcare system.
“Parents should weigh the benefits and avail their children for the activity as unimmunized child could pose a health hazard to the community. Children to always have mild fever, there is no threat or scare, measles virus travels far from child to child. Mild reaction is better than not having your child vaccinated, which might cause vulnerability and related death,” said Etim.
Goodwill messages was given by Mrs Ann Umoh , representative of United Nations Children Fund(UNICEF), MrsDoris Nria , consultant to UNICEF on Non- Polio Supplementary Immunization Activities; Dr Idiongo Idio, consultant to Medicines, Technologies and Pharmaceutical Services on COVID-19; Mrs Uduak Idio, Divine Helpers .
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