Ilorin: The Kwara Government says it is targeting 800,000 under-five children for its National Immunisation Plus Days (NIPDs) and 200,000 pregnant women on healthcare intervention.
The NIPD is a nationwide campaign, coordinated by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), to vaccinate children against vaccine-preventable diseases, especially polio.
Prof. Nusirat Elelu, Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, stated this on Wednesday in Ilorin during a meeting of the Kwara State Task Force on Immunisation and Primary Healthcare.
Elelu, who was represented by the Director, Primary Healthcare System of the Agency, Dr Michael Oguntoye, disclosed that the campaign will commence on Nov. 29 and end on Dec. 3.
According to him, the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) would be integrated with the immunisation plus days.
The MNCH initiative focuses on improving the well-being of women from adolescence through pregnancy and childbirth, and on enhancing the health of newborns and children by ensuring access to quality healthcare and preventing avoidable deaths.
She praised Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his strong support, particularly in granting approvals and releasing funds to ensure the success of PHC activities.
Elelu, however, appealed to the state government to ensure maximum security for healthcare workers during the exercise in communities with compromised security.
Mr Seun Ogunniyi, Chairman of the House Committee on Health and Nutrition, observed that the task force reflects the state’s leadership’s continued commitment to prioritising Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Ogunniyi commended the state government on the trajectory of development in the healthcare sector.
In his response, the Kwara Deputy Governor and the Chairman of the task force, Mr Kayode Alabi, reiterated the state government’s resolve to improve the healthcare of the citizenry.
He appealed to all local government chairpersons across the state to show commitment towards PHC activities in their communities.