By Anietie Akpan, Calabar
Cross River State government has flagged off this year’s World Immunisation Week (WIW) and assured of zero maternal mortality.
United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and World Health Organisation (WHO), as well as the state Ministry of Health supported the event, with the theme, ‘The Big Catch.’
It was flagged off by the state Primary Healthcare Development Agency (CRSPHCDA).
While flagging off the immunisation week activities shortly after a sensitisation walk at the weekend, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Janet Ekpenyong said: “The World Immunisation Week is celebrated every last week of April. For this year, it was from April 21 to 30 for us in Cross River, and we have just concluded a walk, as well as outreach that we have been using to sensitise the people on importance of immunisation and using it as opportunity to reach out to every caregiver and every parent.
“This is to ensure their children are fully vaccinated. We know that in our various facilities, we offer routine immunisation. For some reasons, parents might, because of their busy schedule, forget to take their kids to health facilities. This, therefore, affords us such opportunity and we encourage them to, as soon as possible, capitalise on such and get their children vaccinated.
Pregnant women are not left out, because it is important that they have to take their tetanus injection (TTs), because that will help protect them, as well as their children.”
Source: The Guardian