Yusuf Oketola
A report by World Health Organization (WHO) has revealed that a total of 3,467,808 residents of the State of Osun have fully received COVID-19 vaccines since the outbreak of the virus.
WHO also reported that 313,732 people were partially vaccinated while 959,686 had received the booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in the state as of April 30, 2023.
This, according to the report, ranked the state among top three states in Nigeria that have fully vaccinated at least 70% of the eligible population.
Osun has an estimated total population of 5,764,868 and about 50% (2,882,434) are in the age group of above 18 years.
The organisation made the report during the 2023 Africa Vaccination Week in Osogbo, last week Monday.
Parts of the activities for the Africa Vaccination Week was administering of routine immunisation antigens and deworming drugs; diarrhea treatment with Zinc tablets and Oral Rehydration Solution, distribution of Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs).
It also includes ante-natal care; nutritional screening and counselling; distribution of Vitamin A supplementation for children, as well as sensitisation on exclusive breastfeeding.
In addition, family planning counselling and the administration of the tetanus vaccine and folic acid were given to pregnant and women of childbearing age.
Speaking at the programme, the State Coordinator of WHO, Dr. Bello Ahmed, said the COVID-19 and routine immunisation sensitisation and vaccination drive was adopted to accelerate rapid progress to ensure more people, particularly children are protected from preventable diseases.
“The COVID-19 and Routine immunisation sensitisation and vaccination drive is one of the strategies adopted to accelerate rapid progress of vaccination uptake to get back on track to ensure more people, particularly children, are protected from preventable diseases”,Ahmed explained.
He stated that the campaign was in tune with the 2023 AVW theme “the Big catchup” which sought to close the immunisation gaps cause by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The AVW was leveraged to conduct Fixed and Outreaches sessions to Hard-to-reach areas across the 30 Local Government Areas (LGA) of the state.
“While the COVID-19 vaccination encourages eligible adults to receive the COVID-19 vaccines to protect themselves against the disease and serves as an opportunity to improve COVID-19 vaccination coverage in the state”, he said.
Appreciating WHO and partners for the support in protecting the residents of the state, the Executive Secretary of the State Primary Health Care Board, (OSPHCB), Dr Oluwole Fabiyi, said Osun has recorded significant improvement on immunisation activities due to the quality of integrated campaigns conducted so far.
He disclosed that with support from WHO, Osun established fixed posts at primary, secondary and tertiary health facilities, outreach posts in places outside the health facilities and special locations like Border settlements.
