As part of his support for the war against poliomyelitis and other childhood killer and disabling diseases, the Chairman, Okitipupa Local Government, Hon. Wale Ogunmade, Saturday, 18th February, 2012 flagged off the first round of the 2012 National Immunization Awareness campaign. The flag off ceremony which took place at the Basic Health Centre, Ebute Okitipupa was, according to the Chairman, held to sensitizes the people, particularly, the mothers, on the importance of the National Immunization programme and get their children ready for it.
Hon Ogunmade who, on behalf of the State Governor, His Excellency, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, appreciated the people for their steady support for the incumbent government of the State and reiterated the state government’s special care and concern for pregnant women, nursing mothers and children under the age of five (5) saying; “ it is our concern that pregnant women and children O-5 years are given absolutely free health care services’’. This, according to the Chairman is in line with Governor Mimiko’s Caring Heart agenda across the State. It would be recalled that the “ Abiye” Safe Mother programme of the state government had been acclaimed the best in the world by both the World Health Organization (W. H. O) and the World Bank.
Moreover., the Chairman during the flag off ceremony, donated and distributed incentives such as paracetamol syrup, long lasting insecticide treated mosquito nets, anti-malaria drugs among others to the women and further advised them to readily welcome the National Immunization officers to their compound for the exercise. Saying “this will help us to attain our 80% target routine immunization in all the wards in the State and that will, no doubt, ensure adequate protection of our children against polio and disease such as diphtheria, tetanus, neonatal tetanus, and hepatitis”
Finally, the Chairperson, Mrs Ogunmade , in her brief speech , advised the women on the nutrition of their children and stress the importance of a balanced diet to children’s growth.
