Years after years, Government across the globe try to develop models to improve healthcare especially as it relates to child and Maternal Mortality with greater emphasis on Vaccine preventable diseases.
In Cross River State, the approach is deliberate, from the hills of Obanliku to the creeks of Bakassi, the target was holistic, mothers, fathers, caregivers, religious and traditional leaders took the front seat, they were consciously involved in awareness and sensitization on the dangers of Poliomyelitis.
Many parents due to misinformation have settled that the Polio Virus is now a thing of the past, coincidentally, this season’s approach is in the heat of the Covid-19 Vaccination, they need to be clarified, and that was the major choice of decentralizing the “outbreak and its responses”, the state leadership of the health sector took full charge in the metropolis, Local Government Chairmen were frontliners in their areas, the social mobilization team took charge of the grassroot, what else do you expect from such holistic approach where the targeted population was over 800,000 covering children within the ages of 0-59 months old.
In Calabar Municipal Council, the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr Betta Edu while flagging off the exercise said, Cross River State is at a risk of recording cases of type 2 Poliomyelitis if adequate cooperation between parents and health workers are not met, noting that, over 300 suspected cases of vaccine derived have already been reported in Nigeria, with some neighboring states sharing in the figures.
Edu said, rapid responses have always been Cross River’s game plan, noting that, the state will continue to work round the clock to ensure that, outbreaks are controlled with minimal or no casualty rate recorded.
In the same event, Director General of the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Janet Ekpenyong noted that, she remains confident that the targeted population will be met, describing the level of awareness and sensitization as swift.
Dr Ekpenyong said, Churches, Mosques, Schools and Market places were all visited as a response to effective coverage and total acceptability by all and sundry.
She noted that, no child will be missed irrespective of where they are, as the health workers are well motivated to beat topographic challenges, with mobile clinics, temporary post among developed strategies to meet the over 800,000 children.
She thanked the various partners for supporting Cross River State in interventions of this nature, noting that, with their supports, optimal results will be obtained.
In Ogoja and Yakurr Local Government Areas, their Chairmen could not hide their satisfaction with the unprecedented level of selflessness displayed by the health workers, they are pleased that that there is high level synegy between their LGAs and the leadership of the Cross River State health team.
They both pledged their supports to ensure 100% coverage in their respective LGAs while also calling on their people to come and and get vaccinated against the dreaded Covid-19.
The story is not different in Calabar South Local Government Area as the Chairman, educated mothers and caregivers on the dangers and risks of Poliomyelitis.
She said, the virus which is capable of incapacitating children for life, remains a nightmare which requires the cooperation of parents to get it rid of our state.
In addition to the vaccines, other items like toiletries were distributed to children and caregivers.
