Rotavirus vaccine: Anambra fixes Nov 29 for flag off
Health

Rotavirus vaccine: Anambra fixes Nov 29 for flag off

…warns that Rotavirus Vaccine is free and nobody should pay a dime

Anambra State government on Thursday announced the introduction of Rotavirus vaccine against the brutal virus which causes diahrea, severe dehydration and deaths among children.

The Executive Secretary, Anambra State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, (ANPHCDA), Dr Chioma Ezenyimulu disclosed this in Awka during a stakeholders’ engagement meeting organised by the Agency in collaboration with State Ministry of Health and Partners.

She said the vaccines, provided by UNICEF, WHO and other partners were to be freely given in all health facilities in the state, warning those intending to make merchandise of it not to contemplate such or be ready to face the consequences.

She said, “We don’t want to hear that any local government collected one naira for that will be another national scandal. Nobody should pay a dime to get the vaccine. If you’re forced to do so, please call this number: 08064036537.

“We’re still battling with COVID-19 vaccination rumours that one or two LGAs were collecting money and they all denied it. Let it not repeat itself in this exercise.”

According to Ezenyimulu, the vaccine is being introduced for the first time into the national program for immunization, with November 29slated as the flag off date for the campaign in the State.

She urged the media, Civil Society Organization, traditional and religious leaders, social mobilization officers, health educators in the 21 council areas of the State to take ownership of the project by giving it the wide publicity it deserved.

The UNICEF consultant, Mac-Fisi Kenneth said the body is collaborating with the state to ensure children were not only protected from the preventable diseases, but that those diseases were eliminated from the state.

“As an organization interested in children, we’re partnering with Anambra State government to provide technical support and proper storage of the vaccines to ensure they’re well secured.

“We’re targeting children below 2years, the vaccine is in three dozes with four weeks interval. The first entry will be 6weeks, 10weeks and 14weeks respectively.

A civil rights activist, Prince Chris Azor described the initiative as a booster for the state, calling on his colleagues and other stakeholders to ensure adequate publicity of the programme, just as he urged parents and caregivers to take advantage of the free vaccine.

State Health Educator, Uju Onwuegbuzina called for personal and environmental hygiene, good nutrition including exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of a child’s life, handwashing with soap and water, to stay safe from the virus.

Head of Disease Control, Placid Uliagbafusi who noted that the event was to get the buy-in of the stakeholders, regretted that the occurrence of the virus was more rampant between December and March.

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