United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund UNICEF and Kwara State Government have appealed to parents to immunize their children against polio.
Polio Immunization Social Mobilization Officer, Dr Modupe Shittu made the appeal at the Agenda For Media Officers Sensitization On Polio Virus Outbreak Response Campaign organized by UNICEF in collaboration with Kwara State Primary Healthcare Development Agency held in Ilorin.
Dr Shittu decried ignoble attitude and ignorance some parents declining to present their children for immunization.
The Social Mobilization Officer warned that they would be left with no option than to sanction erring parents and guardians if such resistance persists.
She cautioned that polio virus has no treatment but preventable and encouraged the parents not to deprive their children 0- 59 months vaccination to insulate them against paralysis.
Dr Shittu therefore solicited wide media coverage of polio immunization campaign to convey information to the grassroots.
In his remark, UNICEF Consultant, Dr Usman Danlami tasked media Media Practitioners to amplify the polio the immunization campaign in their respective media outlets for effective dissemination of information.
Dr Danlami also charged journalists to redouble their efforts towards correcting misinformation and disinformation on polio immunization to achieve desired results.
The UNICEF Consultant who advocated community engagement to sensitize the populace and described polio virus as a threat to life
Dr Danlami called for unhindered vaccination of children and assured that multiple doses of immunization unharmful to the children.
Dr Danlami identified Kaiama and Moro Local Governments of the state as worst hit by the polio virus and pledged to leave no stone unturned in managing the virus to guard against transmission.
Meanwhile, the polio awareness campaign and vaccination in the state is slated between Sunday and Wednesday next week across the 16 Local Government Area of the areas.
