By; MKPUMA ENYINNA, Abakaliki
In order to ensure quality health care delivery across the state, Ebonyi State Government has flagged off the 2023 vaccination campaign.
The Hon. Commissioner for Health, Dr. Moses Ekuma formally flagged off the 2023 Out Break Response (OBR) Vaccination campaign in Ebonyi State.
Flagging off the OBR at Maternal and Child Healthcare Center Azuiyiokwu, Abakaliki, the Commissioner for health, Dr. Moses Ekuma said that the immunization was targeted at children under 0 to 59 months and advised parents to avail themselves the opportunity to vaccinate their children against poliomyelitis.
Dr Ekuma who eulogized Governor Nwifuru and his wife for their interest in providing quality healthcare to the people, said that the flag-off was going-on simultaneously in all the local government areas of the state.
While he enumerated the importance of the programme, he encouraged the local government overnment chairmen, stakeholders and caregivers to make sure that children within that range received the immunisation in the hinterland.
He stated that this first round of the immunisation would last till 20th of September, 2023
“Ebonyi State Government is determined to ensure that every Ebonyian or any person living in Ebonyi State has access to this vaccine. It is in these programmes of this determination that we introduce the OBR mass vaccination strategy. The vaccine is now accessible in all public primary, tertiary and some private facilities”, he said.
The health commissioner appreciated the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, WHO, UNICEF and other partners for their various support to the state in improving maternal and child health.
Earlier, the special assistant to the governor on primary healthcare, Sabinus Nwibo and the executive secretary state primary healthcare development agency, Philip Emeka Ovuoba expressed readiness to fight poliomyelitis and other preventable diseases in the state.
In their goodwill messages, the State Coordinator of World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Vivian Ibezimako; UNICEF VSL, Miss Chiamaka Okafor; Quality Improvement Specialist (IHP), Mr. Obasi Chukwu; Solina Health, Mr. Samson Ugochukwu; UNICEF SBC, Mr. Pita Obam and representatives of other partners extolled the Commissioner for the flag off and called for its proper supervision in order to get the desired result.
They urged the targeted group to use the opportunity to boost the immunity of their babies.
The state Immunisation officer, Mr. Kalu Ogbonna while giving a vote of thanks, applauded everybody for their contribution and assured that they would achieve the best in the ongoing immunization in the state.
