BY: EMMANUEL MGBEAHURIKE, Owerri.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with Imo State Health Ministry, extended its free immunization to 16 LGAs of the state.
The state’s Immunization Officer, Dr Chibuzor Okoroama, disclosed this in Owerri on Thursday while briefing newsmen on the success rate of UNICEF’s Catch Up Immunization campaign.
Our correspondent, who visited four out of 16 selected council areas of the state, monitored the program’s implementation and reported that the program received wide acceptance among the locals.
Speaking in the Mbaitoli council area, Mrs Chiwendu Enwerem commended UNICEF for the bold initiative to save the lives of children. She revealed that with this free immunization, parents have been relieved of the financial burden.
The four council areas monitored were Njaba, Mbaitoli, Ngor-Okpala, and Owerri North.
Okoroama, a family physician, stressed that the 16 council areas covered in the program represent the 65 percent expected coverage, as directed by UNICEF.
She listed the other council areas to include Aboh Mbaise, Ezinihitte Mbaise, Ahiazu Mbaise, Isu, Ideato North, Ideato South, Orsu, Oru East, Nkwerre and Ohaji-Egbema.
Dr. Okoroama described immunization as the easiest and fastest means to protect children from deadly diseases and urged parents to ensure prompt immunization of their children.
She said that in the course of immunization, the team located zero-dose children and under-immunized children, as well as children who had never been vaccinated.
She noted that vaccines are expensive, hence the need for parents to take advantage of the free immunization provided by UNICEF to scale up their children’s immunity to diseases.
She, however, expressed satisfaction that despite operational challenges, the campaign was largely successful.
“We conducted micro plan and implementation training at the state, LGA, and ward levels, which began on Dec. 10, 2024, immediately after we received funds for the project.
“We also used the Open Data Kit for direct transmission of information about supervision, and we are glad to confirm that with all the results put together, we can achieve the expected 65 percent coverage“, Okoroama stated.
She thanked the local vigilante groups in the rural communities and the security agencies in the state for their support in providing security for the public health officers, especially in troubled areas.
She also thanked UNICEF for the program and pledged the state government’s commitment to basic
healthcare provision for the residents.
In her comment, the UNICEF Communication Officer, Dr. Ijeoma Onuoha Ogwe advised mothers to always take advantage of this free Immunization Campaign to protect the lives of their children.
According to her, UNICEF will always support moves in this direction as a matter of urgent attention.
“We have been doing our best globally to save the lives of our children and will continue in this direction, to safeguard the future of tomorrow’s leaders. This is our ultimate goal and we are committed to the sustainability of this program.”
