The Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, has said his administration will not relent in its war to rid the state of all preventable child-killer diseases.
The Governor gave this assurance at the official flag-off of Pentavalent Vaccine Introduction in Ondo State which was held at the State Specialists Hospital, Akure.
He said that the state would continue to sensitize the general public on polio eradication initiative, routine immunization and all maternal and child health programmes in the state.
The Governor who explained that the Pentavalent Vaccine combines five different vaccines in one injection to protect against five diseases such as Hib diseases, Diptheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, and Hepatitis B, also noted that the Pentavalent Vaccine will replace the DPT vaccine Nigeria’s routine immunization (RI) schedule, adding that an estimated 27,143 children below one year will be saved annually from Hib related deaths.
According to Mimiko, it has been estimated that nearly 400,000 cases of Haemophilus Influenza type B (Hib) associated illness will occur in children aged less than 5 years of age every year in the country,
saying that the majority of these will present as pneumonia and potent vaccine, with the potential for disease elimination.
He said that Nigeria had got approval from GAVI to introduce the Haemophilus Influenza B antigen as a pentavalent vaccine in a phased manner into its EPI schedule beginning with 13 states and FCT in phase
One, 7 other states in phase 2 and 16 states, Ondo State inclusive in the third phase of introduction.
The Governor called for the support of the people of Ondo State for complete acceptance and importance of the new Pentavalent Vaccine in the state more so that the state is currently pave-setting for other states in the Immunization Leadership Challenge in the country, he added.
Mimiko also appreciated the supports of the donor agencies and the development partners such as the World Health organization (WHO), National Orientation Agency (NOA), UNICEF and NPHCDA..
Earlier in his welcome speech, the State commissioner for health, Dr Dayo Adeyanju, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Taye Oni said that all logistic supports had been given to health workers in all the council areas to ensure smooth implementation of the programme.
