DG Urges Health and Information Officers to Spread Effective Messages on Immunization and other health Services

 

The Director General of the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Janet Ekpenyong has called on health and information officers across the 18 Local Government Areas of Cross River State to continually pass simple but effective messages on the dangers of polio virus in children as well as ways of preventing it in the society.

The DG who stated this in Calabar during a one day online meeting organized by the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency in conjunction with the state to sensitize all  Local Government health education officers as well as information Officer  on the right messages to be disseminated to communities on the dangers of polio and  Nigeria's recent  Poliomyelitis Free Status as well as ways of maintaining it.

Dr. Ekpenyong said for the state and nation to enjoy this status, health education officers as well as information officers must be at the forefront promoting quality messages to members of the public on ways in which every citizen can help in creating a generation free from children living with paralysis.

She identified collaboration between Agencies of Government, religious and traditional groups, peer and social groups as well as the media  to be strong influencers towards the decision been made by people.

"We all know that August 25th 2020 will remain in the hearts of many Nigerians especially health workers as great day in which our efforts in kicking out the deadly wild polio virus was finally kicked out of our great state, country and continent.

This would not have been possible and our achievements would have been hampered if the right messages about Poliomyelitis and it's devastating effects were not made known to our mothers and caregivers by dedicated health education and information officers like yourselves across our LGAs and villages as well.

It is on this note that I want to congratulate you all for this time in history as well as  charge you all to keep the fight going, you all know that our status is still fragile, and the best way to maintain this status is by stepping up our sensitization efforts to encourage people to complete their Immunization routines for their children against all childhood killer diseases including polio.

She finally called for comprehensive and integrated approaches on outreach programmes within the LGAs to sensitize people on other diseases  while advocating for similar holistic approaches to be adopted to eradicate other diseases.

Moderating the meeting, the State Social mobilization officer, Mrs NSA Ekpenyong led the participants through various subjects including the history of Poliomyelitis in the country, the roles played so far in fighting the virus, various adoptable measures employed to kick the virus out of the country and continent, as well as perculiar messages common among different classes of people in the society.

She urged them to work hand in hand with Community leaders as well as churches and interest groups to promote daily and routine immunization in their Communities.

Nigeria was recently declared wild polio virus free by the World Health Organization after it was confirmed that the nation had gone for 48 months without recording any case of the virus.

The virus is most potent among the vulnerable group of 0-59 months of age whose immunity is said to be fragile as the virus can be transmitted through contact with the feaces of an infected person or through water.

So far, no known treatment is confirmed for the Poliomyelitis as victims suffer a lifetime of paralysis.The recommended preventive measures include vaccination which is free, safe, effective and accessible in all Primary Healthcare Centres across Cross River State.