Immunization: Mayor Orji Administers Drugs To Children As Onitsha South Flags Off NIPD 1

By Julie Sylvia, Onitsha

The Mayor of Onitsha South Local Government Area, Chief Emeka Orji has administered first round of Natural Immunization Plus Days, NIPDs, to children under 0-5 years to flag off the immunization in the area.

The Mayor during the flag off at Umunna Primary Health Center Odoakpu 2, expressed his joy for the health facilities in the area, commended the health workers for their dedication to work, pledged his support to all the health centers in the area and free drugs supply and other necessary things needed until completion of his tenure as the Chairman of the area

Earlier in an interview with Newsman, the Director, Primary Health Care Onitsha South LG, Mrs Chizoba Igbokwueze stated that the first round of NIPDs is to immunize children against polio virus, 2 drops of oral polio vaccine in other to prevent oral poliomyelitis and the age is 0-5 years, stating that the event suppose to be at the Council Secretariat but because it was Saturday, they chose to use a primary health center for the flag off.

“It started on 3rd May-6th May, 4 days plus 2 days mop up, making it 6 days, We are targeting children under this range in different strategies, house to house, then we immunize in schools, churches, markets, the mop up is for those who are not met in the field or any anywhere they are, so we have been searching for them in order to immunize every child. We are expected to cover up to 100% of children in Onitsha South, they must be immunized.

“I advice every parents/child care givers to try as much as they can to immunize their children because since this immunization, mortality rate reduced drastically, it helps children to grow well likewise helping the mothers from frequent visit to hospital due to one illness or the other, prevention is better than cure”,Igbokwueze posited.

In her words, the Senior Matron Umunna Primary Health Center, Ofomata Judith mary on why the facility was used as the venue for flag off, disclosed that apart from using Secretariat for health care events, the next place is Umunna Health Center because it is the first, only government built primary health center and the oldest, every other place are on rent or in churches.

“She commended the Mayor, for his quick response whenever they called on him, both financially, also commended the Social Mobilization Center, SMO, Mrs Ifeoma Ndukuba, then the Head of Department, HOD Onitsha South LG for making sure that everything is moving well, all WDC, mothers for bringing out their children.

Contributing, the Supervisory Councillor on Health, Onitsha South LG, Mrs Ebere Udodeme disclosed that the immunization exercise was the brain box of Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency in collaboration with State Ministry of Health and Partners, WHO and others.

According to her, two days seminar were held for the health workers before the flag off and were taught to go round the area to make sure every child was immunized and I witnessed a turn out, mothers complied, with enough information and massive turn out, there would be 0% case of this infection carriers.

The Chairman of all the Chairmen of Ward Development Committee, WDC, in Onitsha South, Pastor Kenneth Dike commended all that contributed to the commencement of immunization exercise, noted that it was stopped for a long time probably thinking there would be no more polio, he commended the state government for the solar light distributed recently to all the primary health centers.

The Deputy Chairman of Onitsha South Ward Development Committee, WDC, who is also the ward 6, WDC, Hon.Francis Nwoye stated that he was at the event as an observer and he is to narrow what was done here to the wards in Onitsha South, disclosed that WDC’s are in all the wards in Anambra State.

On the roles of the WDC’s apart of observing immunizations, Hon Nwoye stressed their general role is to make sure”Our health centers are not under lock and key, being functional, to make sure every centers are reactivated, we are government representatives, serve as middle men between the government and the communities, we also ensure punctuality of these health workers to work and report any defaulters to the government.

Also present during the flag off was the Onitsha South LG Social Mobilization Officer, SMO, Mrs Ifeoma Ndukuba, the WDC’s of ward 5, Odoakpu ward 1,Odoakpu 6, Bridge head 1& 2, Ugwu Sunday Sylvanus, Anayo Okolo, Vitus Oraegbunam, Charles Megafu, Dike Ifeyinwa and Ibekwe Vitalis respectively.