Agbateyiniro demands strategic implementation of NIPDs as Medic laments resistance towards vaccines

The Chairman of Warri South Local Government Area, Comr. Agbateyiniro Weyinmi Isaac, has charged healthcare professionals, responsible for administering Human Papillomavirus Vaccine, HPV as well as vaccines against Polio, hepatitis B and tuberculosis, to be strategic and deploy skilful human relations, in order to convince the target persons to accept administration of the vaccines.

The Warri South Council Boss, made the demand at the Warri South Council Sub-Secretariat in Warri, Delta State, Friday June 27, whilst flagging off the second round of National Immunization Plus Days, NIPDs in Warri South Local Government Area.

Comr. Agbateyiniro, who was represented by the Warri South Council Supervisor for Health, Hon. Ese Gift Deduwa, urged residents of Warri South Local Government Area to take advantage of the immunization exercise, even as it thanked partners such as UNICEF, WHO and Gavi for their continued support.

The Executive Secretary, Local Health Authority, Warri South Local Government, Dr. Tosan Sagay, in her opening remarks, lamented  the resistance being faced by healthcare professionals in the course of carrying out vaccination exercise.

Whilst explaining that Human Papillomavirus Vaccine, HPV, protects mothers against cervical cancer, Dr. Sagay, noted that the HPV will be administered to girl-child between the ages of 9-14 years.

L-R: Hon. Ese Gift Deduwa, Ovwighose Obaro Darlington & Dr. Tosan Sagay

According to her, statistics revealed that 12, 075 women are with cervical cancer, 7,968 die from the diseases in Nigeria, saying when adolescents are vaccinated with the HPV, the cancer rate reduces by 90percent.

Dr. Sagay, stated: “I want to thank the Chairman of Warri South Local Government Area, Comr. Agbateyiniro Weyinmi Isaac, for his great sense of commitment and responsiveness towards ensuring that all eligible children in Warri South Local Government get immunized.

“I want to appreciate our partners, UNICEF, WHO and GAVI for not getting tired, ensuring that our children are healthy and staying healthy.

L-R: Mr. Moukhtar Akosile, Hon. Ese Gift Deduwa & Ovwighose Obaro Darlington

“The second round of NIPDs, which starts immediately, will run for six days. Healthcare professionals, will be going from house-to-house, market places, churches and other faith-based organizations, with oral polio vaccine and Vitamin A supplement, to administer to children in Warri South between the ages of 0 – 5yrs.

“Health workers are stationed in every health centres in Wari South Local Government Area.

“We should not believe the falsehood and lies about these vaccines that if taken, it will make the child not to conceive. Many people that have taken these vaccines, have children.

A cross section of breastfeeding mothers present, during the flag-off

“There are killer diseases, which this vaccine prevents. The vaccines are very safe, there are no side effect, it works well, that is why we don’t see these diseases too much.”

Representative of World Health Organization, WHO, Ovwighose Obaro Darlington, while addressing breastfeeding mothers present during the flag-off, averred: “Vaccine nor be watin we fit buy, if them say make we buy am, he dey very expensive.

A cross section of some Student Nurse from Esisi PHC

“Concerning this Human Papillomavirus Vaccine, we will still give the girl-child from 9-14 years, but after this round, it will only be given to girls of 9years old. The vaccine is available in all health centres, even the private health centres, we have the vaccines there and it’s for free.

“Nor be because vaccine dey free, come mean say vaccine dey cheap, vaccine is not cheap.

“Vaccine remains the safest, shortest and easiest way to prevent all kinds of diseases that kills children and adult. The vaccine we are starting to give today, is the one that prevents Polio. Polio makes children to be deformed (cripple) and if the child is deformed from birth, no vaccine, no surgery, no food can cure it.

“If you want to know about this vaccine, come to the health centre, ask them, they will tell you about it.

“I want to assure the health authority and local government that after this exercise, we will bring feedback and find a way to be more cooperative with them”.

The State (Delta) Technical Facilitator, STF of NIPDs, Akporiaye Nina, who also spoke during the ceremony, advised: “Vaccines are never too much for a child, the more we get vaccinated, the safer we are. These vaccines are not harmful.”

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