November 23, (THEWILL) – The Cross River State government in collaboration with the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, NPHDA, have held a stakeholders engagement meeting on Rota Virus vaccination.
The vaccination will be incorporated into the state’s routine immunisation, aimed at preventing Rota Virus among children in the state.
Participants at the engagement include health education officers, the media, traditional leaders, and religious leaders.
The engagement is aimed to mobilise the stakeholders so they can go back to their respective communities and mobilise healthcare givers, who in turn, are expected to bring their eligible children to the health facility for vaccination.
Giving an insight into the virus, Joy Chabo, the state immunisation officer, said the virus was first discovered in humans in 1973 and is the leading cause of diarrhoea among children under five years.
“Rota Virus was first discovered in humans in 1973 and is the leading cause of severe diarrhoea among children below five years.
“Though infection occurs all through the year, in Nigeria, studies show a greater incidence in the warm dry months.
“Almost every child acquires the infection by the fifth birthday, with the majority of infection occurring below the age of one year in most developing countries”, she said.
She explained that the primary transmission mode is faecal-oral and may remain visible in an environment for months if not disinfected.
She added that the vaccination will only be given to children below one year because they are most susceptible to the virus.
Also speaking, Aliyu Ladan, the senior national supervisor and team lead, NPHDA, said the vaccination is in its second phase with the seventeen southern states.
Ladan, who is also the deputy advocacy and communication with the NPHDA, added that over 100,000 doses of the vaccine are already in the state and more will be sent to the state.
“Rota Virus Vaccine has been introduced in the northern part of the country in August this year which we called phase one introduction.
“Now we are in phase two introduction of the vaccine which covers all the seventeen southern states, so we are here to give our support to ensure a successful introduction of the Rota Virus Vaccine.
“103,200 doses representing the first consignment are already in the state, and already in the LGAs.
It’s going to be in our routine immunization and as soon as these doses are exhausted, the NPHDA will bring in more so that our children will get this life-saving vaccine”, he said.
Welcoming the participants, the state social mobilisation officer, Nsa Ekpenyong, said all mobilisation officers across the state would be mobilised to ensure the success of the sensitisation campaign.
Also present at the engagement was Dr Ibrahim Salisu, the state coordinator, World Health Organisation, WHO.
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