Plateau: Rotarians sensitise women to take polio, measile immunization serious

Plateau: Rotarians sensitise women to take polio, measile immunization serious

By Ladi Emmanuel

Following the allegation that women no longer take polio immunization serious on the ground that Nigeria is polio free, a group of rotarians under the Rotary Club of Jos-Utan Rotary International District 9125 came out on Monday to sensitised young women on the need to take their children for polio and other immunizations.

The Rotarians, who walk on major streets of Jos and markets encouraged women, particularly young women to take out their children for all forms of immunization to boost their immune system.

The Trail Bleasar Rotary President of  Rotary Club of  Jos Utan,  Jane Egbo,  who disclosed this   while addressing  women at Alheri market in Jos, Plateau State , Monday.

She begged the women to always take their children for free polio immunization especially when they are  between zero to 5years .

"We came out for advocacy visit to sensitised women on the need to take polio immunization serious despite the fact the Nigeria is polio free. We came to this community to talk to them to avail their children for polio immunization days.

"They shouldn't say that Nigeria has been declared Polio free so they shouldn't immunize their children again. There are other immunization such as meningites, measiles among others which they should also give their children."

A Polio Ambassador, Rotarian Emeka Okafor who also educated the women said apart from COVID-19 pandemic which is ravaging the world, the need to take immunization against polio, measiles, tetanus, Yellow fever is very necessary.

Okafor who has spent 38 years in the fight against polio in Nigeria said, "One of my happiest moment on Earth was when Nigeria-National was satisfied polio free because that has been the biggest health problem the country has faced.

"But we should not say Nigeri is now a polio free country therefore we will not take immunization serious, we must continue to immunize our children because the vaccine is till free.

"Although the International donors are reducing but Nigerians are still contributing money to make sure that our children from 0-5 years take the vaccine so that they will not be affected by polio.

"This issue of COVID-19 all over the world has make issue of polio to come back but I doubt it because every community have been sensitised.

"Aside polio, there are other disease preventable vaccine that we encourage children to take such as Diphtheria, tuberculosis, yellow fever, menigites, measiles, Tetanus, mumps among others. These vaccines are free and we should take them to maintain healthy children." He stated.

Responding, Goodness Peter and

Christiana Onyebuchi appreciated the Rotarians for the sensitisation campaign and said the women have been educated and enlighten about polio and other vaccines.

They  both  encouraged women to always avail their children for all immunization to enable their children stay healthy.