New Virus: Lagos Takes Proactive Measures To Prevent 50,000 Deaths

As part of efforts to fight the new virus, Rotavirus, the Lagos State Health has commenced immediate vaccination of children.

EKO HOT BLOG reports that the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board (LSPHCB) organised a forum to sensitize stakeholders on the introduction of Rotavirus vaccination.

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The forum which was held at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) in Ikeja, was to create awareness on the introduction of rotavirus vaccine into its routine immunisation programme.

This sensitization and awareness effort is in recognition of the magnitude of rotavirus related diarrhoea diseases.

According to the Director, Health Education and Health Promotion Services, LSPHCB, Mrs. Clara Owojuyigbe, rotavirus diseases is a very contagious virus that causes diarrhoea diseases in children.

She maintained that the virus spread easily among infants and young children hand to mouth after touching an object that has a small amount of the infected stool on it.

Owojuyigbe who was represented by an Assistant Director at the Board, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Finnih, added that the introduction of Rotavirus Vaccination is aimed at averting global deaths.

She said that the Rotavirus Vaccination would prevent “over 50,000 children’s death from the disease annually and would be given orally to all infants at the age of six weeks, 10 weeks and 14 weeks old along with other vaccines under its routine Immunisation Programme available at the Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) in all Local Government/Local Council Development Areas as well as private hospitals in Lagos State.”

In her words, “The Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, with the support of development partners, is conducting a statewide immunisation campaign against Rotavirus from Friday, 25th to Wednesday, 30th November, 2022 at various Primary Healthcare Centres and designated outreaches across the state”.

“In recognition of stakeholders’ role in humanitarian services and creation of enabling environment for the promotion of health programmes, this sensitisation forum is to update you on the introduction of Rotavirus Vaccination programme which will be integrated into the routine immunisation vaccines for children.”

”We want to solicit your support in community mobilisation and sensitisation of the general public to create more awareness”, she said.

On his own part, a Principal Medical Officer representing National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Abuja, Dr Bello Bakunawa, said the various stakeholders at the sensitisation meeting are important to the initiative since they represent various communities in Lagos State that need to be carried along in the rotavirus vaccination programme as the State is leading in piloting the rotavirus vaccine.

He noted that “Lagos has the human resource on health-related programmes as various information passed by various health practitioners on the vaccine are critical in achieving the best in the areas of rotavirus vaccination.”

Dr Bello further solicited the cooperation of all stakeholders to support the state government when the programme is flagged off in Lagos.

The Lagos State Immunisation Coordinator attached to Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Olubunmi Akinlade, in his remarks stated that Rotavirus is the main cause of diarrhoea in children under five years.

According to him, the rotavirus vaccine is going to be available from the 5th of November, 2022 in all public and private health facilities.

“…that it would be free of charge for the targeted children who are six weeks, 10 weeks and 14 weeks old in all State Government Public Healthcare facilities across the State,” he said.