…Commends Media For Support
Ondo State has concluded the UNICEF supported Measles, HPV/Non-Polio Supplemental Immunization programme, hitting 100 percent target.
The state Director, Disease Control and Immunization, Dr. Adefesoye Victor disclosed on Thursday that the state was able to hit the set target 100 percent.
He disclosed that the state had been given a target of 889,602 children to be vaccinated across the 18 local government areas of the state.
According to Dr. Adefesoye, by the time the programme came to an end on Sunday, October 20, 2014, a total number of 889, 273 children were successfully vaccinated.
He, however, appreciated and commended the media practitioners in the state for their cooperation and collaboration in sensitising parents and schools about the vaccination programme through their comprehensive and consistent reportage.
Dr. Adefesoye noted that the set target wouldn’t have been achieved but for the reports of the media houses both electronic and print.
He said: “We have a target of 889, 602 children to be vaccinated across the 18 local government areas of the state.
“At the close of the programme, we recorded 889, 273 children vaccinated.”
Dr. Adefesoye explained that some schools which didn’t allow health workers access to their premises to carrying out the vaccination later allowed them after the media reported the incidents.
He appreciated all the stakeholders who contributed to the success of the immunization programme across the 18 local government areas of the state.
Dr. Adefesoye said: “I must commend the efforts of the media. Their collaboration and support for us contributed to the success of the programme.
“There were some schools that initially denied our health workers access to the premises to vaccinate the pupils, but after listening to our comments on radio programmes to which we were invited, the called us to come and vaccinate their pupils.
“Some of the media practitioners also wrote on the programme to explain to parents and guardians on the advantages in the vaccine.
“They kept in touch with us from time to time till we concluded the programme.”