Council boss flags off OBR2 campaign in Delta community

The Chairman, Warri South Local Government Area in Delta State, Dr Michael Tidi, has flagged off the Polio Outbreak Response 2, OBR2, campaign in the council area, with a call on all parents to avail their children, who are under five years of age the opportunity of being immunized during the four-day programme.

Tidi, while speaking during the formal flag off, said that Poliomyelitis is a disabling and life threatening disease, caused by the Polio virus that can only be prevented with safe and effective vaccination.

Expressing the hope that the immunization exercise will go a long way in boosting and improving the overall health status of children in the local government area, the council boss said, “Nigeria has been experiencing outbreaks of another form or variant of the Polio virus – the circulating variant Polio virus type 2, CVPV2.

“A child can get it if he/she is not immunized against all types of Polio virus or lives in an area where the virus is circulating.

“Polio vaccine given multiple times can protect a child for life. Poliomyelitis mainly affects children under five years of age.

“The best protection you can give your child and community is vaccination with the Oral Polio Vaccine, OPV, and the Injectable Inactivated Polio Vaccine, IPV.

“Achieving and maintaining high routine childhood immunization coverage is critical to keep every child in Nigeria safe from Polio infection.

“Our children should be given Polio vaccine immediately after delivery and every subsequent vaccination schedule, including every immunization pluses, until after 5 years of age.

“It is hoped that this exercise will go a long way in boosting and improving the overall health status of our children in Warri South Local Government Area.”