By Edokpayi Adesuwa
The Edo State Government through its Ministry of Health has been assured by the John Snow International (JSI) of its readiness to support immunization programmes in the State as part of its vision of achieving up-to-date vaccination for eligible persons, especially children.
While playing host to JSI Team in his office in Benin City, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Cyril Adams Oshiomhole, appreciated them for the strong commitment to public health. He said the State Government was ready to work with partners like JSI to improve the health and wellbeing of residents in the State, adding that the partnership would help both parties achieve a shared vision of a healthier Edo.
The Country Director of JSI, Dr. Olawale Durosinmi-Etti, said the Organisation had worked in Edo State in the past and happy to return. He shared that JSI will be working with the State for the next 11 months to reach children who have not received any vaccine, as well as those who are under-immunized. He added that a new proposal was being prepared to support the HPV vaccine programme in the State.
The Project Director of JSI, Dr. Bassey Okposeni, disclosed that 34 teams will be sent to work across 10 selected local government areas to make sure that children are reached with appropriate vaccines.
The State Lead, Dr. Maureen Anyanwu and the JSI’s State Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Osunwunsi Adetunji Ayodedi, stated that the Team will carefully track all activities to make sure that every child reached is recorded and accounted for and that the it would work closely with local leaders and health workers to achieve the set goals.
The engagement ended with a shared promise of working together to ensure that no child in Edo State is left behind in immunization efforts.
