Health official harps on the significance of immunization

Immunisation is veritably important for every child. Whenever a child dies due to a vaccine-preventable complaint, it is not just a tragedy for one family, it’s a failure of our collaborative system because health is everybody’s responsibility.

Dr Ifeyinwa Ani-Osheku, Executive Secretary, Enugu State Primary Health Care Development Agency made this assertion at a Zonal Meeting ahead of the 2024 Integrated Measles Campaign organised by the United Nations Children’s finances (UNICEF) and National Orientation Agency, on Thursday in Enugu.

She said “maternal impunity is transferred during gestation through the placenta and, in the first weeks of life of the invigorated, it represents an important tool for protection. So, children need routine immunisation to fight conditions and stay healthy when maternal impunity wears off.

According to Ani-Osheku: “After a few months, the maternal impunity starts to wear off which is where immunisation uptake comes in to boost the impunity of the child against measles, polio and other non-age conditions.

She still lamented the rate of vaccine hesitancy and called for boosted media collaboration to debunk myths, disband fears and rumours as well as change perception and behaviours.

In her words: “Vaccination is not a bait to populate or sterilise people but to save. So, In the fight against preventable conditions, especially through immunisation, media is our most potent tool,” she added.

Also speaking, Dr Ndubuisi Ebitea, WHO State Technical Officer/Measles, Yellow Fever, Meningitis campaign in Enugu, said the life-saving vaccines were safe, potents and effective.

“We have trained the vaccination team to insure proper running of the vaccines to maintain the vaccine energy which is generally between 2 °C and 8 °C.

Dr Hilary Ozoh, Social and Behaviour Change Specialist, UNICEF, said the 2024 Integrated Measles Campaign would be enforced in Anambra, Benue, Enugu, Cross River and Kogi states.

He prompted the state health educators to give information, data and engage the media to insure harmonious reportage of the measles crusade, produce mindfulness and encourage vaccine uptake.

In her reflections, Mrs Uju Onwuegbuzina, Health Educator, Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency, said the state had concluded plans to commence the integrated measles vaccination crusade in the state.