Oyo To Vaccinate Women In Seven LGA

CHANNELS TV

As part of efforts to eliminate Maternal Neonatal Tetanus(MNT) in the state, Oyo State Government says it will conduct three-round of Maternal Neonatal Tetanus Elimination(MNTE) campaign in seven affected Local Government Areas.

The State Health Educator, Oyo State Ministry of Health, Mrs Oluwakemi Olawoyin made the disclosure in Ibadan at a sensitization programme aimed at eliminating MNT from Oyo state.

“The general objective of the new vaccination exercise is to achieve eighty percent for the three rounds of vaccination exercise across the seven Local Government Areas,’’ she said.

The three-round elimination campaign started from September 11 to 19; October 20 to 24 and May 2018.

The seven Local Government identified as high risk in the state are Atisbo, Ibarapa North, Itesiwaju, Iwajowa, Oyo West, Saki East and Saki West.

She further stated that government would implement the three focus catch up rounds with TTCV in settlements located five Kilometres or more from a health facility in the seven high-risk LGAs.

“Nigeria is a signatory to the international pact for the elimination of Tetanus disease by 2015 but now in 2017. Seven LGAs in Oyo State has been identified to be at high risk.

“In order to meet up with an international validation exercise, the Oyo state primary health care board has now begun a three round of vaccination exercise within the affected local government areas.

“We urge all females of reproductive ages within the council areas to avail themselves the new opportunities,’’ she said.

She added that findings of a reported data and field assessment have revealed that five out of thestatementsstate in the south-west zone of Nigeria are compatible with MNTE status except Oyo State.

“It’s hard to reach populations, like Fulani settlements of Oyo State remained at risk for MNT. This was the findings from an assessment programme conducted across the south west in May 2017,’’ she said.

Olawoyin, who added that Nigeria was one of the 18 countries globally that are yet to achieve MNTE, said that recent statistics indicated a significant drop in the number of reported cases.

She charged Women of reproductive ages from 15 to 49 years and pregnant women in the state to ensure they get proper immunization against MNT

Olawoyin explained further the stages of immunization for all women of reproductive ages and time for the three rounds of vaccination exercise.

She explained that lots of women of child bearing ages are ignorant on Tetanus Diphtheria(TD), some engage in traditional methods of cord care and majority of pregnant women don’t attend Ante Natal Care at health facilities.

An Assistant Chief Nursing Officer and representative of National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Mr Muideen Olalekan urged women within the reproductive ages to ensure that they participate in new vaccination exercise.

Olalekan said that females withing the reproductive ages needed to get themselves vaccinated for the five stipulated rounds to have live immunity from MNT.

Some of the participants commended government and the educators on the campaign, stressing the importance of such sensitization and benefits.

They also pledged to support the efforts aimed at eliminating MNT across the state and in the country.

Maternal neonatal tetanus is a form of generalised tetanus that occurs in newborn and infants who have not acquired passive immunity from the mother having been immunised are at risk.

It usually occur through infection of the unhealed umbilical cord, particularly when the cord is cut with a non-sterile instrument.