KEHINDE EMMANUEL,ILORIN
Dr Nusirat Elelu, the Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency on Wednesday asserted that Immunization intervention has saves about 3 million people globally.
Elelu stated this during a press conference organized at the sidelines of the World Immunization Week in Ilorin.
She observed that the week is themed: “Long Life for All”, aims to highlight the collective action needed and to promote the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages against diseases.
According to her, immunization is one of the most successful and cost effect health intervention in the world.
She stated that the Kwara government has vaccinated over 600,000 individuals against COVID-19 disease.
She added: “We also vaccinated about 1, 280, 000 children that Oral Polio Vaccine. Vaccinations has also reached over 593,000 children with the life saving Measles vaccines among others”.
Elelu noted that the state government had further provided enabling environment for immunization and immunization activities by making funds available for implementation if immunization campaigns.
She reiterated that immunization vaccines benefits beyond health outcomes, including averted medical costs and reduced time spent by parents and health care workers caring for the sick children.
“These savings accrue to families, communities and nations as improvements in education, economic growth and poverty reduction.
“Vaccines have been indiscriminately saving lives since 1796. The first Smallpox immunization was a fight back against disease. For the first time, it gave everyone a chance,” she said.
Elelu therefore appealed to mothers and caregivers to make available thier children and wards for immunization.
She also assured that Kwara has functional Primary Health Care facilities in each wards across the 16 local government area of the state
