IGANDO-IKOTUN LCDA BEGIN MASS IMMUNISATION

Igando-Ikotun Lcda, in collaboration with the Lagos State Government, has commence a two-week mass immunisation of children and female teenagers starting from October 21st, 2024.

The Executive Chairman Igando-Ikotun Lcda Comrade Akinsanya Lasisi Ayinde, said the campaign primarily focused on children aged nine to 59 months.

Akinsanya noted that this initiative was part of his commitment to protecting children from life-threatening diseases such as tuberculosis, poliomyelitis, measles, and HPV.

He stressed that the campaign aimed to close the immunity gaps that had widened due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The chairman, Vice Chairman, did flag-off ceremony for vaccination with health workers, that will be required to carry out the exercise at PHC primary health centre at Ikotun 

Akinsanya distributed flyers, also stressed the importance of media involvement in educating the public to ensure the campaign’s success.

He pointed out that these “zero-dose children” were at significant risk of death due to a lack of immunisation against vaccine-preventable diseases.

Akinsanya finally also appealed to the media, stakeholders to help raise awareness, dispel misinformation, and promote vaccination.

He explained that zero-dose children, who were never immunised from birth, were highly vulnerable to diseases, while under-immunised children are those whose vaccinations were incomplete.

He urged parents to take advantage of the free vaccines provided in primary health care center to ensure their children’s health.

He noted that many Nigerian communities harboured misconceptions about vaccines, with some believing that because previous generations survived without them, current generations did not need them.

He warned that such beliefs were dangerous and urged for a culturally sensitive approach to dispel these myths.

“Ignorance is never an excuse. Just because someone survived without vaccines doesn’t mean another child will,” Akinsanya said.

Comrade OSENI A.S 

SSA ON MEDIA TO THE CHAIRMAN