The drive to eradicate polio in Delta State received a boost, Thursday, when the Commissioner of Information, Dr. ifeanyi Osuoza, pledged the Ministry’s readiness to deploy its information dissemination apparatus to sensitise Deltans and residents about the importance of polio vaccination and other immunisation programmes.
The Commissioner made the pledge to underscore the state government’s support for the polio vaccination activities of the Delta State Primary Health Development Agency.
Dr. Osuoza spoke when he received in audience the management staff of the Agency, led by Dr. Paul Yinkore in the conference room of the Ministry.
Pledging the Ministry of Information’s readiness to join forces with Delta State Primary Health Development Agency to bolster the ongoing Advocacy and sensitization campaigns targeting the total eradication of poliomyelitis in the state, Dr. Osuoza affirmed the Ministry’s dedication to supporting the agency’s efforts in health care delivery in line with the MORE Agenda of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.
Addressing the delegation on the Ministry’s readiness to help propel the sensitisation drive, particularly at the grassroots, the Commissioner said: “If we do not get it right at the primary healthcare level, then we have not gotten it right. This is why I must appreciate the efforts you are already making. As the information Ministry, what we can freely offer is the sensitisation and awareness campaign.
“We will cooperate with you 100 per cent in this drive. We will sensitise Deltans and tell them the importance of polio vaccination and other immunisation levels. We will enlighten our people to counter misconceptions.
“Above all, we are doing this to actualise the MORE Agenda to benefit all Deltans.”
Osuoza pledged a holistic approach to the awareness campaign using both the new and conventional media (print and electronic).
Earlier, the Executive Director of the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Paul Yinkore, commended the Information Ministry for partnering with the healthcare agency to realize comprehensive healthcare for Deltans through robust publicity.
He stressed the need to combat polio in Nigeria by immunizing the vulnerable population —children who are yet to celebrate their first birthday, adding that over 1.2m children have been targeted for the exercise.
‘’We have come to seek your support with media activities to reach the target. We do not want people to refuse our officials with the vaccines because the resources invested in this exercise are huge. Therefore, people should not allow this money to go down the drain.
‘’When we come out to vaccinate, the people should readily come out to accept the vaccine because it is good for our people. The sad thing about polio is that it is very destructive,’’ he said.
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