Polio: FCTA to Immunise Children in IDPs Camps

Jaiyeola Andrews in Abuja

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Monday said
It would immunise children in Internally Displaced Persons camps, nomadic settlements, among others, against polio.

It equally promised to intensify poliomyelitis immunization throughout the length and breadth of the FCT in order to completely eradicate the disease even though it was last reported in Abuja in 2013.

The FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr. Babatope Ajaikaiye gave this assurance during the flag-off of the FCT 2016 African Vaccination Week at Saburi Community, a suburb of Abuja.

The permanent secretary described the theme of the flag-off “Close the immunity gap: Stay Polio Free,” as apt, reiterating that the FCTA would provide quality immunization services to all FCT residents to improve the health and well being of mothers and children.

Ajakaiye said the FCTA also would increase access to cost`effective vaccinations against preventable diseases and make life saving critical health interventions, such as Vitamin A
supplementation, nutritional screening and management.

He added that the administration would double its efforts aimed at providing critical information on health education easily available to all residents.

The permanent secretary explained that the focus of the African caccination in FCT, was to work together with other stakeholders to strengthen national immunisation programmes in the entire African region.