Oyo Govt, Stakeholders Charge Mothers On Importance Of Vaccination Against Childhood Diseases

Oyo State government in its efforts to curtail the deaths of infants, especially the children from the age 1-5 partnered with other critical stakeholders to sensitize the parents, especially the mothers who are residents of Ibadan metropolis on the importance of vaccination for their babies.

The mothers were advised to always get their children vaccinated whenever the opportunity comes, in order to prevent them from some of the diseases that can lead to death of their children.

Speaking at a day program commemorating The African Vaccination Week organized by Oyo State Government through its Primary Health Care Board in collaboration with other stakeholders such as UNICEF, WHO, NPHCDA among others, the Executive Secretary of the Board, Dr Muideen Olatunji stressed that a lot of deaths of children can be prevented through timely vaccinations.

Dr. Olatunji who was represented at the event that was held at the Oranyan Primary Health Center in Ibadan South East Local Government area by the Director of Logistics of the Board, Mr Kehinde Olabode urged mothers present to always keep their vaccination cards, noting that such cards are going to be very useful for their children in the nearest future.

He said, “Vaccination has prevented a lot of sudden deaths of our children, that is why the World Health Organization (WHO) deemed it fit to get us African Vaccination Week with the aim of reminding us that vaccination is very important.”

“Though we are not really doing enough when it comes to vaccination but now we must ensure we get our children vaccinated, it doesn’t kill, it enhances our children’s well-being, and also boost their intelligent quotient, we must collect our cards whenever we get our children vaccinated, not only that we must keep these cards because it is going to be useful for them in the nearest future and if you don’t have it then you will have to pay for it, so it is very important to have it free of charge now as you’re getting the vaccines for them free of charge.” Olatunji said.

In their separate remarks, the Social Behavioral Change (SBC), a consultant for the UNICEF, Dr Olatunji Samuel, the Deputy Director of NPHCDA in Oyo state, Alasan Babatunde Paul, who represented the state coordinator Mrs Atinuke Ogundare at the event, Dr Zorto Philip, the state Coordinator for WHO urged mothers in attendance to always prioritize the health of their children.

The charges them to always make use of vaccination period to get their children vaccinated, as they also maintained that vaccination go a long way in preventing various diseases that can lead to untimely and sudden deaths of children.