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United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund UNICEF in partnership with the Kwara State Government has urged parents to immunize their children against polio, stressing that the virus has no cure but is preventable through vaccination
The appeal was made by, Dr Modupe Shittu, Polio Immunization Social Mobilization officer, during the Agenda For Media Officers Sensitization On Polio Virus Outbreak Response Campaign organized by UNICEF in collaboration with Kwara State Primary Healthcare Development Agency held in Ilorin.
Dr Shittu decried the ignorance and resistance of some parents who decline to present their children for immunisation. Warning that they would have no option but to sanction erring parents and guardians if such resistance persists.
She emphasised that children aged 0- 59 months must not be deprived of vaccination which protects them against paralysis. She also call for wide media coverage to ensure grassroots awareness.
In his remark, UNICEF Consultant, Dr Usman Danlami tasked Media Practitioners to amplify the campaign and counter misinformation about Polio Imunization. He described Polio as a threat to life and advocated community engagement to sensitize the populace.
He assured the parents that multiple doses of the vaccine are safe and unharmful to children.
Dr. Danlami identified Kaiama and Moro Local Government Areas as the worst hit by the virus in Kwara State, pledging that
UNICEF and its partners would intensify efforts to contain transmission.
Meanwhile, the polio awareness campaign and vaccination exercise in
Kwara State is scheduled to hold between Sunday and Wednesday nextweek across all 16 local government areas.
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