900,000 Abuja children targeted for polio immunisation

By Everest Samuel Ikechukwu

No fewer than 900,000 children under the age of five will be immunised against polio in the first round of 2018 vaccination across Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Accordingly, the FCT Primary Health Care Development Board revealed that adequate personnel had been engaged to carry out the exercise simultaneously across the six area councils in Territory.
Making the disclosure, Acting Executive Secretary of the Board, Dr Mathew Ashikeni said it had received enough Oral Polio Vaccines (OPVs) to ensure that no child under the age of five is left out, in the forthcoming exercise which will kick off on 20th through 23rd of January.
He added that all necessary arrangement had been made to ensure a smooth conduct of the vaccination.
He therefore appealed to parents and guidance to bring out their children and wards within the age limit for the Immunisation.
The Secretary explained that vaccinators will be going from house to house, in schools, estates, places of worship, on the streets, markets, farmlands, IDPs camps and nomadic settlements.
Ashikeni assured that the vaccine is safe and protective as booster doses would provide additional protection to the children.
He however enjoined traditional and religious leaders as well as other stakeholders to work with the board as usual in ensuring the success of the exercise in FCT.
It would be recalled that in July 2017, the board targeted 750,000 children for immunisation in the Sub National Vaccination Plus Day in the Territory.