In a bid to curtail the spread of yellow fever killer disease in Ekiti State, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has concluded plans to Immunize two million persons in the state to protect the population from the scourge.
The vulnerable population, ranging between ages nine months and 44 years, representing 85 per cent of the 2.3 million Ekiti population, will enjoy the exercise between January 24 and February 2, 2020.
A World Health Organisation (WHO) State Technical Officer, Ekiti State, Mr Ayomide Aibinuomo, described yellow fever as a killer disease, saying it has claimed the lives of many people in the Northern part of the country, but with the low level of spread in the south.
The WHO expert spoke on Saturday in Ado Ekiti during a seminar organised for stakeholders to work out modalities for the 10 days vaccination programme against the spread of yellow fever in Ekiti State.
The WHO consultant said the introduction of the intramuscular vaccination became expedient following 24 suspected incidences recorded last year in the state.
Aibinuomo disclosed that available statistics indicated that six confirmed cases were recorded out of 18 suspected issue of yellow fever attack in 2018 while six were recorded in 2019 accordingly.
“We have 24 suspected cases in Ekiti between 2018 and 2019. We have met with traditional, religious and educational institutions to partner us to spread the gospel of anti-yellow fever across all the 177 wards in the state.
“Though there might not be any suspected case in 2020, but for the suspected cases recorded in neighbouring states of Ondo, Oyo, Osun and Edo, we have to take proactive measures, because Ekiti people have a high level of migration.
“The vaccine has no adverse effect. It is free and can be taken by anybody except those with immuno-compromised cases like HIV, pregnant persons and nine to 44 years are the most vulnerable, that is why they are the target, but those above the age can be attacked, “he said.
Aibinuomo stated that to aid sensitisation across the state, 177 ward mobiliser sponsored by the state government and 85 town announcers have been hired to complement the awareness being produced by traditional media.
“It is not oral inoculation, but an injectable vaccine. Let us protect ourselves from this deadly virus. We have lost precious ones to yellow fever and even the simple measles, so there is a need for us to take caution”.
Also speaking on the expediency of sensitisation, a health officer at the Ekiti State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Mrs Ajayi Adenike, said the health workers that would prosecute the case will ensure that all the vulnerable citizens are captured in the exercise.
“We are going to work with traditional, religious and youth organisations so that the community can take ownership of the programme and publicise it.
“We are going to provide logistics that will make us reach even the hardest terrain. We want to get there and vaccinate our people because you cannot underrate the disease, it has the tendency to kill if not properly treated.
“And there was a need for behavioural change, people shouldn’t resist the injection because of religion or superstitions. It has no repercussion, it will only strengthen our immunity to prevent us from being attacked by the virus,” she said.
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