Charles Ekanem|28 June 2016|10:22am
Officials from the Clinton Health Access initiative have been conducting a mid year evaluation on the uptake of newly introduced pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in the state. This one month exercise was a state wide evaluation exercise which was done independent of state structures.
While briefing the Director General of the CRS Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Betta Edu, and the state immunisation officer, Mrs felicia Eyaba, the team lead Dr. Tolu said the uptake of PCV in the state is high compared to other state where it has been introduced. She noted that in all health facilities visited, there was no issue with mothers accepting that PCV be given to their children.
She commended the state for the seamless way in which the cold chain system works and how easy it was for health workers to pick up these vaccines from central cold store and maintain their potency till the deliver them to the children at various facilities.
She commended the health team for ensuring that there was no vaccine stock-out found in any facility visited. She noted that this was a huge challange in many other state where they visited.
However she noted that data reporting was faulty in some health facilities and more on-the-spot check must be done to check this. She also advocated for more community outreach and sensitisation will be beneficial.
Responding, Dr Betta Edu, DG of the state Primary Health Care Agency (CRSPHCDA) thanked the team for coming to evaluate the work done to improve PCV coverage in CRS. She explained that Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine used to protect infants, young children, and adults against disease caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae (the pneumococcus) is of immense importance to the state.
She further noted that Pneumonia is one of the major killer diseases of children, as such Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade is doing everything possible to ensure CRS have less mortality associated with Pneumonia. She commended the effort of government in providing funding for logistics that have led to the seamless picture the CHAI team got from the field. "The government of Sen. Ben Ayade has health of its citizens as its number one priority. It has shown 100% commitment in bringing quality health care delivery to its people. Our Commissioner For Health, Dr. Asibong, has strengthened several health policies that have made our health system better. For us at the Agency, immunisation is one of our flagship programs and we strive to improve on it to ensure every child living in CRS has access to potent life saving vaccines, with emphasis on those at hard to reach areas"
She further noted that the agency is shifting from emphasis on immunisation campaigns to routine immunisation services in all our facilities. "The Governor has instructed that we intensify community outreaches and that is ongoing. Furthermore, the first phase of data training has been done by EUSign to strengthen immunisation services. The step down training will follow suit almost immediately.
Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines are availabe in many facilities across the state. Mothers should get their children immunised to prevent pneumonia which can cause death of the child.
Charles Ekanem
Is the media aide to the DG, CRSPHCDA
