WHO South South Zonal Coordinator Advocates For Massive Turn Out Of Children For Rotavirus Vaccination

The Permanent Secretary of the Cross River State Ministry of Health Obol Dr. Iwara Iwara alongside the Director General of the CRSPHCDA Dr. Janet Ekpenyong, represented by the Director Disease Control and Immunization, Mrs Joy Chabo, as a sign of respect, led the WHO South South Zonal Coordinator Dr. Kolude Olufunmilola and her team, to pay their respect and traditional loyalty to the Obong of Calabar, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V.

Speaking during the advocacy visit, Dr. Iwara Iwara thanked the Treaty King for granting the team audience even at a very short notice. "Obong, we're here with a team from the World Health Organization (WHO). They've been supporting our State in health services like polio eradication activities, immunization, COVID-19, Measles, flood and other health emergencies and PHC services, for a very long time now. Just a few weeks ago they supported the State by providing flood disaster response  and management services amongst other things.. 

We're here today to seek your approval and blessings to enable us begin the Rota Virus Vaccination exercise for all our children under age One. This vaccination will help prevent unnecessary death due to diarrhea as we cannot afford to lose any Child especially when we already have a solution at hand and before us."

On her part, the WHO South South Zonal Coordinator Dr. Kolude Olufunmilola thanked the traditional rulers council under the leadership of the Obong of Calabar for their outstanding support in health issues as CRS remains one of the best States with a 100% traditional rulers support so far in Nigeria.

"My traditional leaders, let me use this medium to thank the Obong of Calabar and his cabinet for being proactive and supportive in the health issues of their people as this State remains one of the best States enjoying an unflinching support from the traditional rulers council. We are here today to proffer solutions to health issues and any other thing that tends to make the body uncomfortable. We therefore solicit for your continuous support while pledging more support from WHO to CRS."

Speaking also on behalf of the Director General of the CRSPHCDA Dr. Janet Ekpenyong, the Director Disease Control and immunization, Mrs Joy Chabo, appreciated on behalf of the Director General the support of the Obong of Calabar and his cabinet especially in all immunization program carried out in the State.

"The traditional rulers council under the impressive leadership of Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu (V) the Obong of Calabar and his entire cabinet is what has brought us this far and why the State keeps excelling more than other States in Nigeria. Today we're here again to solicit for our traditional rulers support, approval and blessings to commence the administration of the new vaccine that has just been introduced by the Federal Government called the Rota Virus Vaccine that is going to prevent our children under age One from contracting diarrhea.

All children in Cross River State, below the age of one will get the vaccine in three doses with the first dose to be administered to children under 6 weeks, second dose for those under 10 weeks and the third for those under 14 weeks. To start using the intensified implemention, all children less than One year old will be attended to as it will help strengthen their immunity."

Reacting, the Obong of Calabar formally welcomed the WHO South South Zonal Coordinator, Dr. Kolude,  to Cross River state, stating that with the zone having a coordinator, a lot of activities will spell success. In his words; "With a South South Zonal Coordinator, it will help us coordinate the activities of our people in the South South States. We recognize this group as one that has been effective in carrying out health awareness to all our communities in the State.

Thank you for letting us know the current immunization policy in place as well as the approved vaccine for diarrhea. I  charge all community leaders and heads of family to treat this vaccination exercise as important and accord the health workers all the necessary support while calling on our people to cease this opportunity and safe the lives of their children from contracting the Rotavirus which will in turn lead to diarrhea, a disease that kills children even more faster than you could imagine.'

Rotavirus is found in the child's stool and when it gets into the child's mouth either through the child, the mother or due to poor personal hygiene, the child becomes affected with diarrhea and begin to have watery stool that makes the child to become weak in minutes leading to death as over 200,000 children die of diarrhea daily. The vaccination will commence on Monday the 27th day of November, 2022 as parents are advised to take their children under age one to any nearby health facility for vaccination.

Amongst the team during the visit was, Dr. Ibrahim Salisu, the WHO State Coordinator for Cross River, who has been a very proactive, hard-working and committed coordinator. Others are Mrs Salome Solomon, WHO M & E Officer, Dr. Gloria Achibong, WHO Surveillance officer, Mr. Pella Umar, WHO COVID-19 Technical Officer, Mrs. Nsa Ekpenyong, the State Immunization Officer. Mr. Oduma Joseph of WHO, Dr. Ugochi Eyong,  UNICEF SBC Consultant and Mrs.Uyomi Inyang the, Deputy State immunization officer were also part of the team.

Ntem Chris

CRSMOH MEDIA.