Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has flagged off the2012 Local Immunization Days in the state, urging the people to take advantage of the free immunization exercise to ensure the good health of the children.
Speaking at the flag off held at Evbonogbon, Ovia South West Local Government Area, Oshiomhole said, “I am happy to see the number of women in a typical rural community that have turned out. It shows that the message is going far and wide and others realize that their children must have this vaccine.”
The governor said every child must be immunized, adding that this is something that is totally free.
He urged mothers to take the exercise seriously, noting that, “make sure that the way we beautifully name our children should also be the way that we vaccinate them against polio.”
According to the governor, “this is something that we want to sustain and take to every village. Those of you who are here should tell those at home that the children must have this vaccine.
“There are no side effects; there is no danger for the child. It is a win, win situation. It is good for the child, good for the family and good for the society,” he said.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Cordelia Aiwize appealed to parents to willingly present their children aged from zero to fifty-nine months for vaccination, adding that the eight childhood killer diseases are preventable through immunization.
According to her, “the three rounds of LIDS are borne out of the fact that Edo State that has been polio free since 2009 recently had a case of an ambiguous vaccine derived from polio virus. This suggests that there are cases of missed and unimmunized children in the state.”
She assured parents that the vaccines are safe and not harmful; stressing that repeated dose of the vaccine will boost the immunity of the children.
The highlight of the flag off was the administering of the vaccine on children by Comrade Oshiomhole.
