Anambra state government, through the Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency has began the integrated mass vaccination campaign against meningitis and yellow fever disease in the all local government areas.
The vaccination programme which is being carried out in conjunction with international health agencies like World Health Organization, (WHO) United Nations Children Fund, (UNICEF)
and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency was held in Agulu community, on Monday, October 26.
According to figures by the Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency, forty-two suspected cases of meningitis have been reported in the state alone, between January and September this year, while yellow fever has remained an endemic disease in most countries.
The Executive Secretary, Anambra Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Chioma Ezenyimulu stated that while yellow fever vaccination was for people between nine months and forty-four years,
Meningitis a vaccination is targeted at people between the ages of one and five.
Dr Ezenyimulu urged Ndi Anambra to make themselves available for the vaccination and asked religious and traditional leaders, the media, civil society groups and care givers to advance the sensitization and help to mobilize people to be part of the vaccination.
On his part, the chairman, governing board of Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Professor Josephat Ogbuagu noted said to prevent outbreak, at least eighty percent
vaccination coverage of the population must be reached.
He said the state targets to reach over ninety-five percent of its population and that the cooperation of Ndi Anambra was needed to achieve desired success and prevent any outbreak in the state.
The Transition Committee Chairman of Anaocha Local Government Area,
Mr. Patrick Onyedum, in his speech read by the Secretary, Mr. Chinedu Anazodo, commended the choice of the community for the flag off and pledged their support to the vaccination programme.
However, Paul Obiefuna and Joy Obi, both of Ikpo Primary School Agulu, who were vaccinated with the Yellow Fever vaccine, thanked the government for such opportunity given to them.
ur budgeting. They demanded the rehabilitation of federal roads within the South-east. The federal government is already working on some of them.