By Solomon Odeniyi
The Government of the State of Osun says it would commence a mass vaccination campaign against Yellow Fever in the state.
The campaign, which would be held in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), is slated to hold between November 20 and 29 across the 30 local government areas of the state, including Ife East area Office.
Health Promotion Officer, Ministry of Health in the state, Mrs. Taiwo Adeniji, disclosed this during a meeting with the social mobilisation members in the state.
Adeniji explained that the vaccination is meant for people between nine months and 44 years, adding that health workers would be stationed at fixed, temporary and mobile posts to administer the vaccine.
Adeniji said: “The government of the State of Osun, in collaboration with development partner, UNICEF is organising a Yellow Fever vaccination campaign from November 20 to 29 in all the 30 LGAs of the state. The vaccination is for people aged between nine months and 44 years.
“Health Workers will be stationed at fixed posts in health facilities, temporary posts in schools, markets , churches, mosques and other places and mobile posts which involve the health workers moving from place to place to administer the Yellow Fever vaccine.
“This will enable us cover more people in the state. The exercise is done once in 10 years. Unlike before when it was limited, it has been extended beyond nine months now nearly all the places in the state will be covered.”
She enjoined education and religious institutions and markets to grant access to their facilities within the period slated to administer the vaccine.
The UNICEF Consultant on Communication for Development in Osun, Dr. Godwin Olawale, said the prevalence of the virus was the reason for the vaccination.
According to him, the virus had recorded 50 per cent fatality rate in the country, adding that Yellow Fever was constituting a threat to the well-being of Nigerians.
He said the people between the stipulated ages were more prone to contracting the virus, urging residents to partake in the coming exercise.
Olawale listed ways to preventing the virus to include: sleeping under long-lasting insecticide nets and putting on long sleeves cloth while going to bed, adding that vaccination remained the most effective way to protect one against Yellow Fever.
