A recent outbreak of measles in Imo State has reportedly claimed the lives of six children in Ohaji-Egbema, Oguta, Oru West and Oru East local government areas of the state.
The state Immunisation Officer, Ministry of Health, Mr. Adolphus Okoro, warned parents that the six killer diseases affect children under five years if they are not immunised when due.
He said: “To this end, the state Ministry of Health has started training chief mobilisation officers of the National Orientation Agency, NOA, and health education officers in the 27 local government areas of the state.”
According to Okoro, the current exercise is to ensure mass mobilisation of children under five for timely and adequate immunisation.
On what government was doing to stem the tide of measles outbreak, Okoro said government had preserved the vaccines at the newly constructed cold store in Government House, Owerri, against loss of potency.
He appealed to parents and guardians to actively participate in the fight against the six killer diseases by presenting their children and wards for immunisation.
He said: “Parents and guardians are, therefore, advised to take their children and wards to the nearest health facilities, nursery schools, chur-ches, mosques and other outreach centres for immunisation, which commences this Saturday.”
He commended donor agencies for making the vaccines available for immunisation exercises in the state.
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