We have no polio case, says Oyo govt

Oyo State government has said there was no polio case in the state just as it commences mass polio immunisation of children age zero years to five years by Saturday.

Oyo state health educator, Mr Olarinde Olaoye said the May 2019 First Scale outbreak polio response campaign in the state was to ensure the state remains polio-free.

Olaoye, who spoke at a one-day sensitisation meeting with Oyo State social mobilisation committee members, said cases of vaccine-derived polio cases had already been recorded in the neighbouring Lagos, Ogun and Kwara states, so necessitating that all children in the state is protected.

The 4-day mass polio vaccination, he said will take a four-prong approach to ensure no child is left without been immunised.

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According him, aside from the health facilities that provide immunisation services for children, vaccinators will also be visiting homes, schools, and religious house to administer the vaccine.

Mrs Eunice Niyilola, the state’s immunisation officer said polio immunisation coverage of Oyo State is less than 70 per cent and described it as a challenge.

While urging parents and caregivers to support the vaccination exercise, she said children are only conferred full protection from polio after they had taken at least four doses of polio vaccine.

She added, “So it is also part of efforts to boost their immunity against polio. There is no means of preventing polio aside immunisation.”

Mrs Niyilola called on the social mobilisation committee members to help spread in their communities the importance of vaccinating children.

She declared that the state still has many children, especially in hard to reach places, missing out from vaccination.

State Director, National Primary Health Development Agency, Mr Steven Akinrinade said the polio response campaign was central to ensuring that Nigeria is certified polio-free.

Mr Akinrinade urged the members of the Oyo State social mobilisation committee members to continue to support the immunisation of children in their communities to increase vaccination compliance.