Immunisation has been described as one of the core functions of the Anambra State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, ASPHCDA, an official has said. “The core function of Anambra State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, ASPHCDA, is to ensure that the immunisation status of children under 5years and pregnant women in the state will be up-to-date.’’

Chioma Ezenyimulu, executive secretary, ASPHCDA, said this in an interview at her office in Awka. Ezenyimulu noted that immunisation had always been the safest and easiest ways of eradicating and reducing childhood killer diseases in the world.

According to her, immunisation helps to boost the immune systems of children as well as pregnant women.

“It helps to reduce mortality and morbidity among children and pregnant women,’’ she added.

The executive secretary, then, said that National Immunisation plus days and Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week were carried out twice a year, just to ensure that children and pregnant women would be immunised.

“Other campaigns such as African Vaccination Week are also carried out in the states in line with National Primary Healthcare Development Agency to ensure children and pregnant women are covered.’’

She noted that irrespective of all the campaigns, routine immunisation activities were executed at all the primary health centres within the state.

The secretary emphasised that Anambra was adjudged as the first state on immunisation coverage nationwide with a score of 96 per cent and first on Measles campaigns among states in the zone with 95 per cent.

Ezenyimulu commended Anambra government, their partners, ministries, religious groups, mothers and caregivers for all their efforts on immunisation campaigns that brought Anambra to the top.

She urged them to maintain the tempo as that was what facilitated the success recorded by the state and for better and healthier Ndi Anambra.

Ezenyimulu also urged the mothers to always make their eligible children available anytime there would be immunisation campaigns, irrespective of their status.

She urged pregnant women to always go for antennal care to avoid complications during delivery, saying, “a stitch in time saves nine.’’

– Sept. 25, 2018 @ 17:05 GMT |