By Erharuyi A. Joe
The Executive Secretary of the Edo State Primary Health Care Development Agency (EDSPHCDA), Dr. Omosigho Izedonmwen, has expressed appreciation to the State Social Mobilization Committee (SMC) for its efforts at the ongoing Outbreak Response (OBR) to Circulating Variant Polio Virus in the 18 Local Government Areas across the State, urging the Committee to intensify its commitments towards maintaining the Polio-free status of the State and Nigeria in general.
Dr. Izedonmwen, who was represented by the Director, Community and Family Health Department of the Agency, Dr. Osayomore Idemudia, emphasized that the OBR One is among the supplementary campaigns championed by the Edo State Government and other relevant stakeholders, including WHO, UNICEF, amongst others, and cautioned against any act that could undermine the State Government’s resolve to maintain the Polio-free status.
According to Dr. Izedonmwen, “The Novel Oral Polio vaccine is available; it is safe; there is no over-dose and thus, the idea that an eligible child has been vaccinated before at the facility level should not arise. Let every child of five years and below get two drops of the vaccine in its mouth for full protection. However, when a child takes the nOPV during the campaign, the little left finger is marked to indicate receipt. Be aware that after the initial four days exercise, the mop-up exercise of two days will extend till Thursday, 21st September, 2023 to ensure maximum coverage.”
Lending his voice, the Assistant Director, Disease Control and Immunization, Dr. Efomo Esiegbe, explained that the first round and the second round of OBR are basically to guarantee full coverage and maximum protection of having every child vaccinated. He emphasized the need for continuous sensitization and education of residents in order to gain the confidence and cooperation of parents and caregivers in accepting that their children and wards be vaccinated accordingly.
The Monitoring and Evaluation officer, Mrs. Esther Ajayi-David, reported that though there were pockets of hesitancy and hostility against the Agency’s healthcare officers in the field, there was renewed hope, as one of the members of the SMC has prevailed on the matter, being a major stakeholder in the affected community.
The SMC recommended more advocacy and sensitization especially on the part of governments on all vaccination exercises, citing the example of the President, World Medical Association, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, who publicly identified with and declared that the OBR vaccine is safe. The Committee commended Dr. Enabulele for the gesture and sued that other notable personalities and organisations like the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) should emulate Dr. Enabulele.
